Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1978 Ford Bronco Based Class 3 Score Race Truck 400/c6/kingpin Dana 60 on 2040-cars

Year:1978 Mileage:1
Location:

Florence, Texas, United States

Florence, Texas, United States
Advertising:

1978 Ford Bronco-based Class 3 Desert Racer
Ford 400/C6/NP205/Dana 60 ('79 Ford Kingpin!) front axle/GM 14 bolt rear
No longer a "project" -- needs finishing touches to be race-ready by this summer!



This has been a several-year project that has been "back-burnered" by more pressing needs of the shop.  While we were hopeful to have it completed in time for the Baja 500 this summer, we have been forced by the current company's direction to move some of the toys out of the shop permanently.  It absolutely kills us to part with this after so much work and resources have been poured into it -- and to have it tantalizingly close to race-ready -- but there are no other options available.  We don't have the resources to put the last bit into making it 100% race-ready, and storing this off-site isn't an option.  We'd rather sell it to someone who can quickly button up the final few items and terrorize Class 3 the way we know they'll be able to.

Vehicle started life as a low-mileage 1978 Ford Bronco with a factory 400 engine and C6 automatic.  The truck was completely stripped down, and a significant amount of time, money and effort was put into the rebuild.  The frame was boxed for strength, and the entire frame and underbody was blasted, ospho'd and painted for future rust prevention.

The (original) engine is an October, 1977 product of the Michigan Casting Center (all of the blocks associated with water jacket cracks were produced prior to March 1, 1977).  The crankshaft and connecting rods are the only items retained from the original assembly.  All engine work performed by Ledford Performance Machine Shop in Waco, TX.  Highlights include:
  • Original virgin block bored 0.20" over
  • Crank and rods reground, with all new bearings and ARP cap/rod bolts throughout
  • Ford Australia 302C heads ("Aussie Heads") completely torn down and rebuilt with:
    • Stock size (2.04"/1.66") Ferrea SS valves
    • Hardened valve seats
    • DSS roller pedestal rocker arms
    • Comp Cams valve locks, springs, and seats
    • Mickey Thompson/Holley tall finned aluminum valve covers
  • Federal Mogul forged aluminum dish pistons -- with current heads CR approximately 9.6:1
  • Comp Cams XE262h hydraulic camshaft, new cam bearings
  • Comp Cams hydraulic lifters and pushrods
  • Weiand Performer Plus aluminum intake
  • New Holley 4150 carb (Truck Avenger/off-road version)
  • Sanderson headers
  • KRC power steering pump with mount
  • Powermaster 1 wire race alternator
  • Champion 2 row aluminum radiator with shroud and flex fan
  • Milodon 8qt. hi-capacity oil pan/pickup
  • Blueprinted hi-capacity Melling oil pump from Precision Oil Pumps
  • ARP hardened oil pump driveshaft
  • Cloyes double roller timing set
  • Flow Kooler water pump
  • MSD ignition and MSD performance distributor
You can see a video of us starting it up and running it last night, below


Power is fed into the original C6 automatic, which has been completely rebuilt with all-new race bands/clutches, a 300M input shaft, all new fluid and filter.  The stock shift linkage is included, as is a floor shifter for the C6.  You choose which way to go on the shift linkage -- the stock shifter is still installed on the steering column.  B&M transmission cooler (with SPAL electric fan) already installed and plumbed into the tranny.

Stock NP205 has new bearings and seals, and is in exceptional condition.  Flanges installed and ready for driveshafts.

The steering and suspension is where so much time and effort has been invested.  As you can see from the pictures, the axles are not the stock pieces.  This truck has the holy grail of axles -- a 1979 Ford kingpin Dana 60 high pinion and a rear GM 14 bolt.  The Dana 60 has been completely rebuilt with a new 4.56 R&P, new outer U-joints, and a high-steer setup for the drag link.  Drop track bar bracket, custom Dana 60 track bar bracket and track bar fully aligned and installed.  Drag link and tie rod are fabricated from .250" wall DOM with adjustable Bullet Proof spherical rod ends (Heim joints) throughout.  Warn Premium locking hubs installed.

The front Dana 60 is mounted with a CAGE Industries (now Bloody Knuckle Garage) big Bronco radius arm kit and 4" lift Deaver coil springs.  Arms mount to custom CAGE Dana 60 weld-in mounts.  While the arms are still available from BKG, the Dana 60 mounts are no longer available!

Steering is via a Borgeson steering shaft, coupled to a Saginaw power steering gear rebuilt (and converted) by West Texas Offroad.  Their 8" Redneck Ram (rock ram) is installed and fully plumbed.  You can see it operational in the video below:


The GM 14 bolt rear has been fully rebuilt with a Detroit Locker and 4.56 R&P.  It also has the DIY4X disc brake conversion and 3/4 ton GM disc brake rotors/calipers installed.  New custom rear Deaver springs with a 4" lift (no blocks) and F-450 rear shackle upgrade INSTALLED.  New brake pads in front and rear.  New 17" steel wheels all around.

Full Painless Products fuse/relay panel and wiring harness throughout engine and body.  All lights wired and operational (some bulbs might be required for tail/reverse lights).  Auto Meter gauge cluster wired with all senders/sensors (transmission temp, oil pressure, water temp), Master kill switch and waterproof military-grade starter/switches in dash panel.

Roll cage is a custom 6pt. unit built by Rhodes Race Cars/BD Racing.  All required hoops are present, and constructed out of 2" x .120" DOM -- as required by SCORE.  This is a full-height cage, so we opted to remove the roof of the cab in order to install the cage without cutting it down shorter.  Roof was then replaced and tack welded back into place so it can easily be removed as needed to remove/reinstall the cage.

Jaz 32 gal. fuel cell with all required fill pipes, venting and braided stainless fuel line from the tank to the Carter fuel pump on the engine block.

New body mounts

Body is in good condition.  When we first stripped the car down several years ago -- what we thought at the time were "rust issues" with the body were quickly addressed.  It turns out there weren't really any rust issues -- just some superficial bubbling in the driver rear quarter and the driver floorpan.  Unfortunately a shop assistant got a bit overzealous with a wire wheel and ended up removing the bubbling and everything beneath it -- creating a few pinholes in each area.  There was no perforation except for that the wire wheel did, and the entire underbody was ospho'd and painted with a heavy coat of Rustoleum to prevent any future rust.  This was done well over a year ago, and there has not been development of as much as a single additional bubble.  You can see in the pictures where the pinholes are -- and seen from underneath you can clearly tell that the floorpans are solid.  Should have just given the guy a wire BRUSH...

So in addition to the cost of the Bronco, as well as the $15k+ in parts invested in this build, there are over 350 man hours in the construction, fitting and testing of this rig.  If you commissioned this at an outside garage, you'd likely be in it somewhere in the $35-40k range, and still not as near completion as this rig is.  Here is a list of the items needing completion, and/or not included in this sale:
  • shock absorbers (shock mounts present front and rear)
  • drive shafts (front and rear)
  • brake lines (new booster/MC is included)
  • install transmission/t-case shifter (included but not installed currently)
  • seats
and that's it -- you will have a running/driving rig.  There are a few additional details (safety lights, racing tires, finish welding on the roll cage (currently spot welded only) and this is a SCORE legal Class 3 racer.  All rules from the 2006-2010 Technical Specifications have been followed.  The only changes in Class 3 since publication was a clarification that the stock cab must be used.  Not a problem here, as all of the original sheet metal is present, and has not been altered from its stock dimensions.

A winning bid in this auction will require a (non-refundable) $500 deposit within 48 hours of auction close.  Full payment must be received within 7 days of auction close.  Will assist in loading the truck for shipping, but buyer must make all arrangements for shipping from Florence, Texas (approx 15 miles west of Interstate 35 in central Texas).

Please feel free to ask any questions prior to the auction close.  Vehicle is for sale locally, so we reserve the right to end the auction early.  Good luck, and thanks for looking!

Auto Services in Texas

World Tech Automotive ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Automotive Tune Up Service
Address: 213 E Buckingham Rd Ste 106, Fate
Phone: (972) 414-5292

Western Auto ★★★★★

Automobile Parts & Supplies, Tire Dealers, Wheels
Address: 106 W Clayton St, Hull
Phone: (936) 258-3181

Victor`s Auto Sales ★★★★★

New Car Dealers, Used Car Dealers, Wholesale Used Car Dealers
Address: 5808 Manor Rd, Geneva
Phone: (512) 270-5635

Tune`s & Tint ★★★★★

Automobile Parts & Supplies, Glass Coating & Tinting Materials, Consumer Electronics
Address: Booker
Phone: (806) 373-8863

Truman Motors ★★★★★

Used Car Dealers
Address: 5701 Burnet Rd Ste B., Cedar-Park
Phone: (512) 765-4494

True Image Productions ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service
Address: N Waddill St, Copeville
Phone: (972) 542-4445

Auto blog

Ranger in the USA, Alfa in Italy, and Volvo goes RWD | Autoblog Podcast # 780

Fri, May 12 2023

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Byron Hurd. They start off with this week's big news, including the official unveiling of the U.S.-market Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor, some new RWD options from Volvo, and the potential production status of the Hyundai N Vision 74 concept. They also cover the discontinuation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the introduction of the latest RS model in Porsche's lineup, based on the 718 Spyder. From there, Byron talks about driving the new Alfa Romeo Tonale, and Greg digs into the new Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance. After that, Byron talks about his Wankel-based discovery during his tour of Alfa Romeo's factory museum outside Milan.  Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast # 780 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown News 2024 Ford Ranger and 405-horsepower Ranger Raptor revealed 2024 Volvo C40 and XC40 Recharge First Drive Review: Back to the RWD future Pony up, Hyundai. Build the N Vision 74 concept Porsche unveils 2024 718 Spyder RS — outrun the sun What we're driving2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale 2023 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: Green Podcasts Alfa Romeo Ford Hyundai Lexus Porsche Volvo Convertible Crossover Electric Sedan

Ford evaluating new Fiesta RS?

Wed, 08 Jan 2014

Word coming in from across the pond has it that Ford is working on developing the business case to create a new Fiesta RS. The development is encouraged by the extremely positive reception the existing Fiesta ST has garnered to date, and the emergence of the above-pictured Fiesta RS WRC rally car, but it'll take more than goodwill to make a more extreme version a reality.
According to Auto Express, a new roadgoing Fiesta RS would almost certainly be based closely on the ST version, albeit with some vital differences. Its 1.6-liter turbo four would be increased from 180 horsepower to somewhere around 230 hp, and that powertrain would be accompanied by lightweight alloys inside blistered wheel arches, a stripped-out interior and possibly lightweight bodywork.
The vehicle's approval would reportedly require a strong business case in Europe, and not just in the UK where Ford hot hatches traditionally enjoy a strong following. It's unclear whether the Fiesta RS would potentially make the transatlantic voyage to American showrooms, but between it and the larger Focus RS, hopefully the Blue Oval wouldn't leave its home market out of the action altogether.

Quitting Mexico factory helps bring down Ford earnings $200 million in 2016

Thu, Jan 26 2017

Ford released its 2016 earnings report this morning, and despite a fourth quarter net loss it proved to be the automaker's second most successful year ever, following record breaking numbers in 2015. Losses for the year come from a number of sources, including accounting changes and a $200 million hit for backing out of the small-car factory in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Despite the loss, come March 9 about 56,000 UAW-represented employees will receive a $9,000 profit-sharing check. That, like most of Ford's other 2016 metrics, is slightly down from the year before, but it's still the second best profit-sharing payment ever. Total net income was $4.6 billion, down $2.8 billion from 2015. Total revenue for 2016 was $151.8 billion, up $2.2 billion. Ford's earnings report lists a global market share of 7.6 percent, down a tenth from 2015. Ford's European and Asia-Pacific markets posted their best and second best pre-tax profits respectively. The South American, Middle East, and African markets all took hits because of unstable economies and other external factors. Ford expects to have another down year in 2017 as it invests in new and emerging markets and focuses more on its mobility projects.Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Ford via Automotive NewsImage Credit: Getty Earnings/Financials Plants/Manufacturing UAW/Unions Ford Lincoln Mexico ford earnings