Tom Kawalski
Centennial, Colorado
Dearborn Deuce Convertible
DrivetrainThe '49 Flathead was machined and assembled by Earl Floyd (Battleground, Washington) and topped with a set of polished Offenhauser heads and intake with dual Strombergs. A Mallory ignition lights the fire, and custom headers built by Pinkee's expel burnt gas through a pair of Smithy mufflers. An S-10 five-speed was adapted with a kit from Cornhusker Rod & Custom.
Chassis
Tom went for the whole Hot Rods & Horsepower package and ordered the corresponding chassis to go with the convertible body. The eye candy up front consists of a Pete & Jake's chromed and polished stainless steel frontend with a dropped 4-inch I-beam axle controlled by hairpins and a POSIES SuperSlide spring. SO-CAL Buick-style front brakes cap the ends, and a polished Mavelrack-and-pinion steering unit makes parking a breeze. Underneath the rear is a 3.25-geared 9-inch held in place with a stainless steel triangulated four-bar smoothed with adjustable Aldan coilovers.
Exterior
Pinkee's massaged the Dearborn Deuce body before shipping it to Squeeg's Kustoms (Mesa, Arizona) so Doug Jerger could squirt on several coats of PPG custom-mixed Greek Bronze. Lighting comes from recessed '50 Pontiac taillights and Guide 682C headlights.
Wheels & Tires
Body-colored 16-inch solids from Trudesign (4 1/2s and 6s) look perfect sans trim rings accented with a set of '42 Ford caps. Firestone rubber from Coker (4.50/4.75s and 7.00s) gives it the required rake.
Interior
Tom sits back in the Egg White leather-covered Wise Guys bench and takes in the retro details, such as the '34 Plymouth gauge insert, refurbished vintage heater, and Juliano's '39 banjo wheel topping the ididit tilt column.