The Mustang was mostly back together by summer 2005, we say mostly because "when I decided the interior needed a complete revamp; it needed to be up to par compared to the rest of the car," remarks Darel. "New carpet and seat covers installed by Stitch's Custom Upholstery freshened up the look and I had the interior panels removed, cleaned and re-dyed." So that was one thing, but then Clark noticed the engine was dribbling coolant at the front. "I tried my best to get the car ready for Mustang Week 2005, but it wasn't completed to my standard. I went to the show anyway but vowed that I'd be back and ready to compete next year." The coolant leak resulted in the top end of the motor being pulled apart once more, reassembled and detailed once again. Boy, he's enthusiastic this Darel. But in the end it paid off. "The car was I guess you could say 'complete' in time for Mustang Week in 2006 (well actually, it probably never will be complete - I'm still doing things to it - I recently installed some Saleen/Recaro Mesh headrests and am always looking at other little tweaks here and there)." Anyway, let's just say it was good enough by most people's standards and proved a tremendous hit. In fact, Darel has been somewhat surprised by the reception the venerable four-eye gets. "When I drive this car, it seems to get more and more attention everywhere I take it. Even folks with new Mustangs and high horsepower late-model Cobras and such really like it. I often get comments about how they had one of these cars back in the day and after seeing mine they want to get another one again." And after having a look at Darel Clark's 1985 Mustang GT ourselves, let it be said, who can blame them?
Specifications
Darel Clark's 1985 Mustang GT
Engine Modifications
Block bored .030" over and honed; stock crank polished; new bearings installed by Kowalsky Machine; Wolverine WG-1190 hydraulic roller camshaft with 289/299° duration .493/.593" lift; Ford Motorsport 1.6 stud mounted roller rockers; stock H.O. heads, ported and smoothed with 3-angle valve job by Kowalsky Machine; Weiand Stealth intake manifold; Barry Grant 625 cfm Road Demon carburetor with electric choke; Ford Motorsport 13" chrome air cleaner with K&N air filter; Carter High-Volume mechanical fuel pump, Summit carburetor feed with integral fuel pressure gauge fed by custom bent and polished 3/8" aluminum fuel line; Mellings High Volume oil pump; Ford Motorsport HD oil pump driveshaft: Ford Motorsport polished valve covers with blue inset detailing; Lokar engine dipstick; Ford Motorsport blue anodized accessory pulleys; R&M billet wiring looms; Ford Motorsport 9mm plug wires; Ford Motorsport dual chrome breathers; Ford Motorsport Duraspark II ignition coil and bracket (relocated to driver's shock tower); Exide dry cell battery; 180° thermostat; Goodyear Hi-Miler blue radiator and heater hoses; MAC 1 5/8" shorty jet coated headers; MAC 2 1/2" off-road H-pipe; Dynomax 2 1/2" mufflers; MAC 2 1/2" tips
Driveline
Rebuilt Borg-Warner T-5 five-speed manual gearbox, using D&D Performance kit; D&D heavy-duty 10.5" clutch; D&D steel flywheel; steering bearing retainer and adjustable shift quadrant; factory Ford driveshaft with heavy-duty U-joints installed; 8.8" rear with 3.73 gearing and Auburn limited-slip differential
Chassis
1986-93 style double hump crossmember; Maximum Motorsports full-length subframe connectors; Polyurethane transmission mounts
Exterior
Cervini's Stacker wing; Cervini's Ram-Air hood; car re-sprayed in original Light Regatta Blue Metallic by Lee Durham
Interior
Ford Motorsport 140 mph speedometer; Pilot Sport steering wheel with cruise control; B&M Ripper shifter with MGM cue ball, stock re-upholstered, material by Stitch's Custom Upholstery and Street Rods (factory materials but with gray piping); Saleen mesh style headrests; Kenwood KDC-7001 AM-FM CD stereo
Suspension And Brakes
1987-93 Mustang front spindles; Ford Motorsport lower front control arms; Ford Motorsport 'B' springs front and rear; Tokico Illumina front struts and rear shocks; Maximum Motorsports Caster/Camber plates; Maximum Motorsports front K-member brace; HP Motorsports Mega-Bite Jr. lower rear control arms; Ford Motorsport heavy-duty upper control arms; Maximum Motorsports pinion snubber; Polyurethane suspension bushings; rebuilt quick ratio power steering unit; Maximum Motorsports solid steering shaft; 11" slotted front brake rotors; Mustang SVO 73mm front calipers with high performance pads; Maximum Motorsports front caliper sleeves; Stainless Steel Brakes Corp; rear disc conversion with 10.25" rotors and 45mm calipers; SSBC 1 1/8" bore master cylinder; Ford Motorsport/Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve
Wheels And Tires
Centerline Billet Saber 16 x 8" with BF Goodrich 245/50-16 Comp T/A tires all-around