3
1.0 General
Overview.
Your all-steel Dearborn Deuce Convertible has been designed for the hot rod
enthusiast and home-based builder. You will find many features have been pre-
engineered into this body to make the building experience a pleasurable and simpler
one. Among these features is a protective rear inner trunk panel designed with
access holes for tail lamp servicing, as well as holes in the body’s substructure
through which the battery cables and wiring harness may be routed. This body is
also constructed with open-ended sub rails running from front to back, which provide
protected areas through which the battery cable or wiring may by routed.
In all areas, there has been considerable thought given to ease of construction, and
to creating a body with considerable overall strength. As you become more familiar
with its construction, the structural features that have been incorporated in its design
will become more apparent to you.
If you have any questions regarding any area of the body, contact Dearborn Deuce
at (860) 669-3232
Or, email us at:
2.0
Body preparation and general maintenance for the bare steel body.
If your body was not supplied with factory e-coat, please note that prior to shipment,
your body was treated with a rust prohibitive called LPS-2. This has been applied to
inhibit surface rust before you begin working on the body. Dearborn Deuce
recommends that you re-apply LPS-2 or a similar substance weekly if you have not
begun the paint preparation process (note that LPS-2 can be purchased at most
automotive supply stores. You can also use light oil or a chemical similar to WD-40).
Note: It is EXTREMLY important that you do not get any oil or coatings on your
convertible top.
It is also important that you keep your body in a dry, non-humid environment to
prevent the start of corrosion. Please note that constant temperature changes will
cause the body to begin rusting almost immediately. An example of this would be
storing the body inside a cool garage, and opening the door daily during humid
weather, and then closing the door again. This kind of constant cooling and warming
will have a harmful effect if you do not have the body coated thoroughly. It will cause
the body the “sweat”, and this moisture will cause surface rust to show very quickly.
If your body does begin to show surface rust before painting, apply a mild metal prep
to remove any rust with a 3M Scotch Bright pad, and then re-treat the body with
LPS-2.
Before you begin the paint prep process, it is important that you remove any
corrosion and clean the body thoroughly. Dearborn Deuce recommends cleaning
the body with a good grease/wax remover or paint thinner before you begin. Your
local auto body supply will stock several products exclusively for this purpose.
