1993 Ford Bronco - Built To Chase, Bred To Lead

McNeil Fiberglass fenders give the Bronco the additional clearance necessary for the extended beams' wider track. The 35-inch-tall BF Goodrich Baja T/A tires ensure this steed keeps moving in the roughest terrain while the KMC trophy truck bead lock wheels keep the race tires from coming off the rig at low air pressures.

El Gayero Paint Shop in Mexicali, Mexico, ensured the Bronco could be seen from a mile away popping out like a sore thumb in the desert. To accomplish this, they sprayed this desert rocket in Hemi Challenger Orange paint.

This Bronco was designed as a support truck and as such would be useless without a dedicated floor jack mounted to the cage behind the full size spare tire mount. A dedicated oil rack was built into this truck to prepare for the worst case scenario. In order to gain additional ground clearance, the stock 31-gal-lon fuel tank was mounted higher-protruding inside the body to keep it away from renegade rocks. An amber warning light makes sure the competition can spot the wild steed while eating its dust.

The custom aluminum dash was fabricated at El Pajarito's Upholstery in Mexicali, Mexico. The dash was then wrapped in nautical vinyl and stuffed with an array of Auto Meter gauges to keep tabs on the engine vitals. A Lowrance HDS7m GPS lets the co-pilot know exactly where they're headed while the '08 Expedition air vents direct the ice-cold air-conditioning breeze for those hot prerunning sessions. An Art Carr shifter provides solid gearshifts for the Mogi manual valve body C6. A Racer X intercom allows the driver and co-pilot as well as a third passenger to be in constant communication. A quick-release Momo steering wheel gives the driver added comfort when carving desert washes.

Chano didn't want to rely on the original pushbutton 4x4 transfer case in the deserts of Baja so he swapped in a stock manual-shift Borg Warner 1356 T-case from an earlier Bronco to eliminate the weak link in his drivetrain. Electric gremlins are not worth the headaches and hassles; a manual shift T-case was just cheap insurance.

The eight-point 1.75-inch 0.120-wall 4130 chromoly cage was tied into the frame to keep the occupants safe in the event of a wreck or rollover. The Bronco uses a full 'cage from front to rear, solidifying the entire platform as well as its suspension.

NT Racing Works fabricated the extended radius arms to allow for impressive wheel travel and employed the use of Heim joints to keep the suspension from binding while still holding up for the long haul. The suspension was designed to keep the driveshaft angle to a minimum ensuring a long service life. Mogi in Riverside, California, built the fully-manual valve body C6 transmission to endure the punishments of high-speed desert action. A Simon & Simon transmission cooler along with a deep sump transmission pan keep the mercury from rising too much, keeping the Bronco running smoothly in the blistering heat.

NT Racing Works built these cut and turned extended beams to allow the Bronco to reach 18 inches of front wheel travel. The Fox 2.5 14-inch-stroke coilovers keep the Bronco floating over rough sections while the Fox 2.0 hydraulic bumpstops help cushion big jumps with ease. In order to keep it functional, the front Dana 44 was stuffed with 4.86 Richmond gears.

The steering was upgraded to chromoly links and Heim joints. A dropped pitman arm keeps the steering angles correct, ensuring that the Bronco tracks straight. Since the track width was increased to 88 inches, Jesus at El Chuy's Fabrication in Mexicali, widened and beefed up the axles to accommodate the wider stance. ORW Limit straps are employed so the shocks don't overextend and come apart at high speeds.

The 9-inch rear was stuffed with a Summer Bros. 35-spline spool along with 4.86 Richmond gears. NT Racing Works gusseted the 9-inch with a skid plate to keep any angry rocks from ruining a perfectly good day. NT Racing Works fabricated the four-link using 4130 chromoly steel as well as chromoly Heim joints to make sure it would hold up in Baja. Chano is no stranger to Baja. A contractor by trade, he doubles as a driver and co-pilot for EC Motorsports' class 7 Ranger and class 8 F-150. Naturally Chano turned to EC Motorsports to dial in the suspension to make sure the Bronco ran as smooth as possible over the nastiest Baja terrain.

The 2.5 16-inch-stroke King bypass shocks and 3.0 16-inch-stroke King coilovers were tucked up close to the body to keep them away from anything that could possibly damage them while delivering 20 inches of usable wheel travel. EC Motorsports pulled from their extensive racing knowledge, fine tuning the shocks for optimal performance. EC Motorsports is no stranger to high speed desert rigs, having placed first at the 2009 SCORE Baja 250 as well as a third place finish at the SCORE Baja 1000 in 2008 in class 7 and clenching the CODE Racing class 7 championship in 2009.

The rear section of the frame was notched for clearance to give the Bronco more travel in the rear. NT Racing Works reinforced the notch and tied in the Fox 2.0 hydraulic bumpstops using an adjustable bumpstop mount.

NT Racing Works reinforced the 9-inch rear to hold up to the constant beating prerunners face in the dirt. You can clearly see how much ground clearance was gained by relocating the 31-gallon fuel tank inside the truck a few inches. The rear disc brakes ensure the Bronco can adequately stop if need be at a moment's notice.