An '89 T5 transmission allows Danny to make the gear changes at 5,400 rpm thanks to a UPR Blue Thunder shifter. The Spec Stage 2 clutch and an aluminum driveshaft transfers the power to the 8.8-inch Ford rearend stocked with 4.10 gears, stock axles, and a posi unit. Making sure the chassis can get all of this power to the ground is key, and Danny didn't overlook that fact. KYB struts and Saleen springs are featured up front; KYB shocks, Saleen springs, and UPR upper and lower control arms plant the rearend; and S&S custom subframe connectors help stiffen up the chassis. Rolling stock consists of chrome 17-inch Cobra R wheels when cruising around on the street. When Danny pulls into the track, however, the Cobra Rs come off and a set of Centerline 15x4 front and 15x8.5 rear Convo Pro wheels wrapped in 195R15 skinnies and 275/50/15 Mickey Thompson E.T. Streets are bolted on.
"It drives as tight as a new Mustang," he says. "When I put the front sway bar back on and the 17-inch Cobra Rs on all corners, it handles great. When I'm racing, I keep it on the mat and don't let up." Letting up wasn't in the equation at all for Danny, who drops the clutch at 3,800 rpm on the starting line and routinely blasts down the quarter-mile in the low-12-second range with a terminal velocity upwards of 112 mph.
With the mechanical portion of the car completed, Danny turned his attention to the appearance side. He hardly changed a thing in the interior, save for custom door panels, a custom rear seat, an Auto Meter tach, and Saleen oil pressure and water temperature gauges. The exterior of the car is a different story, however. He dropped off the Mustang at Automobile Collision Center in Sweetwater, Tennessee, where the crew there bolted on the Kaenen 3-inch cowl hood, sanded down the car, and sprayed on four coats of PPG basecoat/clearcoat Scarlet Red and clear paint. The finishing touch came in the form of the killer flame job.
"The car is fast, clean, and gets lots of attention," Danny says. "It still has A/C and all the other creature comforts." He's happy with how his Mustang turned out, though he's always looking to add to the fun. Future plans include a Vortech S-Trim supercharger that would push 10-12 pounds of boost into the fuel-injected Stang. Either way, Danny has found a perfect equation for fast, Ford fun.