You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge. Few possess it, and those that don't are always left wondering: How did they do that so quick?
Don't feel bad if you are in the latter category; so are we. We also wonder what is it about some mini-truckers that enables them to bust out the coolest minis in a matter of months. Is there some magical formula or potion that these guys have discovered that the rest of us have missed out on? What takes the rest of the world years to complete, guys like Danny Rowe accomplish in a quarter of the time. Mini-truckers such as Danny stand in a group all their own, separate from state, club, or style distinctions. Their only requirement for membership is to have the ability to turn out awesome rides quickly.
Danny turned out his S-Dime in only six months, which debuted at the Mini-Truck Nat's in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We were lucky enough to be there, and our timely arrival was marked by the photo shoot of his awesome truck. At the time, we had no clue what Danny had been up to for the past six months, nor did we realize that his truck was built in that short amount of time. We just knew that we were photographing greatness, and only now have we discovered just how great it is. This truck is flat on the tarmac, stylishly painted, and detailed to perfection, a feat that is tough to accomplish without years of experience or, at the very least, a well thought-out plan.
While we could forever guess at the secret formula to building minis quickly, we'll just credit Danny's accomplishment to the hard work and dedication of custom shops such as Dezine Werks, Just Imagine, and his friends. To find out Danny's magic recipe for his mini, check out the list of ingredients in The Lowdown section of this story.
Chassis/Suspension:
Dezine Werks of Winston Salem, North Carolina, gets the credit for 'bagging Danny's ride. Up front, a set of Belltech 2-inch drop spindles was installed before the framerails were clearanced and a pair of Firestone PN 2600 airbags was installed. In the rearend, the framerails received a C-notch, and a TCI four-link replaced the leaf springs. The chassis was also reinforced by boxing the framerails from the notch rearward with plate steel. Another pair of Firestone PN 2600 'bags was installed, and the system was plumbed with 3/8-inch air line and 3/8-inch MAC solenoid valves. Topping off the adjustable suspension is a 3-1/4-inch body drop that lays the rockers flat when the air is let out of the 'bags.
Wheels/Tires:
18x8-inch KMC Venom rims and P225/40ZR18 tires tuck perfectly into the fenders of the S-Dime. Body Mods Dezine Werks also shaved the body of its door handles, the fuel-filler door, the third brake light, the body seams, and the taillights. While they were at it, they also molded the rear end shut and added a steel roll pan to the mix. Taking on the roll of taillights is a set of LEDs, and the fuel filler nozzle was relocated to the inside of the bed.
Custom Paint/Graphics:
Just Imagine of Conyers, Georgia, sprayed the beautiful paint over Danny's mini. DuPont paint was used to reproduce the brilliant Burgundy, Gray, and Silver murals and flames.
Interior:
Being the do-it-all guys that they are, Dezine Werks also stitched up the interior in gray and burgundy tweed. A 13-inch Billet Specialties steering wheel puts a grip on things.
Audio/Video:
System The audio system is backed by a full wall of Orion XTR subwoofers that are powered by a Bostwick HCA 2100X amplifier. The mids and the highs are powered by a Bostwick DA1200HC amp. An Alpine CVA1005 head unit takes charge of the system, which features a Sony PlayStation for game playing and an Alpine VCP for movies. The system was wired by Trendsetters of Winder, Georgia, and the enclosure was built by Dezine Werks.
Owner's Quote:
"I built my truck to have a cool ride, and my goal was to get it into Mini Truckin'."