HRT Motorsports - 1972 Ford F-100 - Making The Grade

1972 Ford F100 Making The Grade Suspension

1972 Ford F100 Making The Grade Front Right

Even if you can’t see this truck, you’ll mistake the sound for few others. If you’ve been around off-road racing for a few years, you might remember the Enduro Racing F-150 of Dan Smith and Dave Ashley, and its 8-into-1 headers. The 8-into-1 creates an exhaust note that sounds like an angry, high-revving Indy car. Brandon’s F-100 has that sound, but it’s not coming from the original ’72 Ford FE big-block. It’s coming from a small-block Chevy!

1972 Ford F100 Making The Grade Chevy Engine

A Chevy engine in a Ford? Indeed! The small-block displaces 406 cubic inches and breathes through a K&N filter, a Barry Grant Demon 750 cfm carb, and an Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake manifold. The compression’s 9:1 which makes for good power and reliable performance even on pump gas. The ignition’s by MSD.

A Chevy engine in a Ford? Indeed! The small-block displaces 406 cubic inches and breathes

A Chevy engine in a Ford truck? It’s been done before, and it works great. Why is it such a desirable combo? Ford’s I-beam suspension delivers gobs of wheel travel in a rugged, simple package. Chevy’s small-block V-8 delivers gobs of power in a readily-available, aftermarket-friendly package. Bringing such a chassis and engine together makes for a sweet truck with an even sweeter sound.

Photo shoots go best on the weekdays. Off-roading areas are less crowded during the week, so it’s safer to run a fast truck through the rough. Another bonus is that the photo backgrounds are more controllable. The only bummer was that Brandon couldn’t be there, because it was a school day.

1972 Ford F100 Making The Grade Rigid Led Lights

Rigid Industries LED lights keep things bright at night. Dick Cepek Fun Country II tires grip well over a variety of terrain types.

Rigid Industries LED lights keep things bright at night. Dick Cepek Fun Country II tires g

After checking out Brandon’s ride from every angle, hearing the headers sing their beautiful song, and going for a ride, we’ve gotta say this: “Stay in school” never sounded so good!

The Best Reason to Stay in School…Ever!

1972 Ford F100 Making The Grade Crb Dash

This is a no-frills, all-business competition interior, but everything’s within easy reach. We like the Lowrance GPS’s mounting: very accessible from the co-driver’s seat, and mounted at an angle that’s less likely to reflect the sun’s glare. Furthermore, it’s shielded with a visor. The custom aluminum dash was built by CRB Fabrication in San Marcos, California.

This is a no-frills, all-business competition interior, but everything’s within easy reach

Specs

Vehicle: 1972 Ford F-100
Owner/hometown: Brandon Arthur/Ramona, California
Engine: Chevy 406, custom Sheffield 180-degree headers modified for 8-into-1 collector
Transmission: GM Turbo 400 built by Culhane Transmissions
Front suspension: HRT Motorsports custom I-beams using Ford TTB Dana 44 beam ends and steering knuckles. Fox coilovers and bypass shocks, King bumpstops. HRT custom steering with Howe steering box and ram assist. Travel: 20 inches
Rear suspension: HRT four-link using a Mittler Bros. axle housing, 40 spline axles, CNC hubs and 13-inch brake rotors, Wilwood calipers. Fox coilover and bypass shocks, King bumpstops. Travel: 32 inches
Ring and pinion: Chrisman 10.25 gears, 5.00:1 ratio
Rear differential: 40-spline spool and matching axle shafts
Tires: 37-inch Dick Cepek Fun Country II
Wheels: Beadlock-model Ultra custom wheels, 17x8 inches
Cool tidbit: Brandon was racing across the desert at 90 mph before he was licensed to drive on the street!

More than a few panels had to be pulled to get this view of the 8-into-1 headers. They’re wrapped up to keep the heat inside the tubes and out of the cab. Eight-into-one headers make awesome power, but they do it over a fairly narrow RPM range: perfect for a high-revving desert truck, but not something recommended for a daily driver.
More than a few panels had to be pulled to get this view of the 8-into-1 headers. They’re
Let the rails end and the tubing begin! Back-halving a truck is only a good idea if you’ve got the patience and know-how to keep the chassis square in the process. This wasn’t Todd’s first rodeo; the truck drives great. There are 32 inches of rear travel on tap.
Let the rails end and the tubing begin! Back-halving a truck is only a good idea if you’ve
That’s a Racer-X fuel cell under the spare. Check out the trailer ball in the middle of the rear bumper: one thing you don’t want to nerf! The aluminum panels stand in place of a tailgate and make this truck more street-friendly (note the license plate.) This isn’t just a race truck; it sees play duty on many non-race weekends.
That’s a Racer-X fuel cell under the spare. Check out the trailer ball in the middle of th