In another Deuce thread ("deuce body rumors") we posted a little info regarding the Dearborn Deuce body that Hot Rods and Horsepower is selling. Our car arrived Aug 16. Now that we have had two weeks to touch it and work with the thing, we are more impressed. This thing has had a lot of thought put into its design and construction.

Our goal is to build a really low car without channeling or sectioning the body and NO Z in the frame. Not just a low car but an "in the moss" car that comes close to touching the road. To do so, we bought a frame from Hot Rods and Custom Stuff in Escondido, CA (www.hotrodsandcustomstuff.com). They sell a frame that should be in an art show....the workmanship is fantastic; the welds are textbook quality. Their frame is a deviation from a stock profile in that they sweep the front upward 3 inches more than stock, raising the crossmember (in effect, lowering the car). Also, they add 3 inches to the wheelbase forward of the firewall so that everything fits under the hood. Recently, they have developed a raised rear to match so that the car sits lower without having to Z the frame (a crime to the beauty of the deuce rails).

The attached picture is the latest mockup. The front tires are 23.5 dia while the rears are 31". The rear reveal will have to be raised 5 inches to be made concentric with the tire. Bob Parmenter asked us if we had the skill to cut a deuce above the wheelwells where the compound curves get tricky.....no, Bob, we are trusting this to the guys at Hot Rods and Custom Stuff....they are much better than we are. By the way HR&CS has the steel bodies in stock in Escondido....no waiting. They also have the frames in stock (or close to it) if you need a package.

Our other project goal is to keep the front view clean with no springs, no shocks, and no brake calipers showing in the wind. We plan on using hidden ShockWave bag/shock combos that are hidden between the frame rails and laying horizontally. The car will have about 5 inches of total suspension travel at both ends so the ride height will be about 3 inches above the picture height.

The car has an 2004 LS6 engine with a GM 4L65E transmisison. We will have to cut the floor out for the tunnel since the driveshaft is a tad above the frame. For reference, the hairpin hole in the frame (see pic) is 2 1/2 inches off the road.

More to come