NW Class 3 fan

[Brigand]

Hello and thanks for allowing me on your forum. My name is Steve and I am looking into the possibility of racing my 73 Bronco in Class 3 events.
I have been doing research on this for some time now I think the time is right for me to build by Bronco into a race rig.
I look forward to getting to know you all better in the near future and hope that maybe you can help this newbie with some of my dumb questions.
Speaking of which! First dumb question, and believe me I hunted to the answer on this before I asked:

In Class 3, since it's a 4X4 class, do you have to run an event with your rig in 4WD or can you run it in 2WD?:confused:

Thanks for your patience,

Big Steve
Portland, OR

[Blanco]

1st off WELCOME!! :D

Glad to see another potential Class 3 racer in the ranks.

Most race in 2wd & when its needed shift into 4wd high range.

[Brigand]

Thank you and, er, thank you.

[Grimm]

4wd must be capable of working, but most run 2wd until 4 is needed in the silt beds and stuff, like Cam said.

[Brigand]

4wd must be capable of working, but most run 2wd until 4 is needed in the silt beds and stuff, like Cam said.

Yeah, that makes more sense. It seemed to me like it'd be way too hard on the transfer case to run in 4hi over the length of an entire race especially in spots where you can run at a higher speed. Thanks for the help on that.

So, is it a case of bailing out of your vehicle on the course to lock the hubs manually or do racers use the air locking hubs that you can activate from the cockpit like they use on rock crawlers?

[Blanco]

When I pre-run I usually just lock the hubs & leave the transfer case in 2wd. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif

[Brigand]

When I pre-run I usually just lock the hubs & leave the transfer case in 2wd. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif
Gotcha, that makes sense. That way when your hubs are locked in 2wd the drive line remains synchronized if you do need to shift into 4hi but still not stressing the transfer case in the meanwhile.

[fj40]

You made a very interesting question, I can only speak for my team, because we still use manual hubs to engage the Explorer´s front axle. Sow, in order to train co-drivers, I wrote this quick and easy process of hub locking/unlocking in a racing scenario, hope this list can help you to gain a few crucial seconds on your fellow competitors:

find safe spot to pull over... note1; if already stuck, skip this step.
open door.
climb out. note2; if no movement is achieved, go to step 4.
release 5 point harness and try step 3 again.
Get your head jolted back as you jump of car, go to next step.
disconnect intercom connector.
unhook air hose.
run too Fartess front wheel (driver side) give thumbs up to driver.
turn hub.
run to other wheel.... if no hub in wheel, you are in the wrong axle, go back to front of car, co-driver side. (ok, your side).
turn hub.
run back to door.
climb in.
close door.

and as the car starts moving:

find lap belt under ass x 2.
flex to get correct side shoulder strap from behind back x 2.
fish for anti-sub strap.
hook all 5 metal things together while the course becomes a twisty, deep whoop, off camber, rooted, washboard, rocky downhill whit a 100 ft dropoff on your side.
catch jumping air hose from behind your head and hook to helmet.
follow hose back to find intercom wire.
connect intercom to helmet.
check whit driver.
receive OK from driver... note3; if no answer comes back, repeat steps 6 tru 8 until you get 9.

All this steps get easier when up to your knees in silt or mud, hehehe.

Well, in reality, most of the time we have been Lucky to find spectators or pit crews that will gladly lock/unlock the hubs for us.

Welcome to C3R, enjoy your stay.

Ernesto.

[Brigand]

Thanks Ernesto! I'm making a copy to tape to the dash for my co-driver:D

[Brokenbronco]

You made a very interesting question, I can only speak for my team, because we still use manual hubs to engage the Explorer´s front axle. Sow, in order to train co-drivers, I wrote this quick and easy process of hub locking/unlocking in a racing scenario, hope this list can help you to gain a few crucial seconds on your fellow competitors:

find safe spot to pull over... note1; if already stuck, skip this step.
open door.
climb out. note2; if no movement is achieved, go to step 4.
release 5 point harness and try step 3 again.
Get your head jolted back as you jump of car, go to next step.
disconnect intercom connector.
unhook air hose.
run too Fartess front wheel (driver side) give thumbs up to driver.
turn hub.
run to other wheel.... if no hub in wheel, you are in the wrong axle, go back to front of car, co-driver side. (ok, your side).
turn hub.
run back to door.
climb in.
close door.

and as the car starts moving:

find lap belt under ass x 2.
flex to get correct side shoulder strap from behind back x 2.
fish for anti-sub strap.
hook all 5 metal things together while the course becomes a twisty, deep whoop, off camber, rooted, washboard, rocky downhill whit a 100 ft dropoff on your side.
catch jumping air hose from behind your head and hook to helmet.
follow hose back to find intercom wire.
connect intercom to helmet.
check whit driver.
receive OK from driver... note3; if no answer comes back, repeat steps 6 tru 8 until you get 9.

All this steps get easier when up to your knees in silt or mud, hehehe.

Well, in reality, most of the time we have been Lucky to find spectators or pit crews that will gladly lock/unlock the hubs for us.

Welcome to C3R, enjoy your stay.

Ernesto.

I nominate this post for post of the year!!! Very funny!

[chupakabras]

it was really funny, and it's not a joke, hahah, been there, done that, hahaha,.

[Yikes]

I nominate this post for post of the year!!! Very funny!

LOL!!! Times two. That was great FJ!!!

[fj40]

He, had a long day yesterday and needed to unwind, glad you like it.

[kal]

we run 4/wheel in high gear all the time!, it's all in the prep, and we have run at speed's of 108 at Ridecrest in may 5 th 'o7 at mdr in class 3 .

[Brigand]

we run 4/wheel in high gear all the time!, it's all in the prep, and we have run at speed's of 108 at Ridecrest in may 5 th 'o7 at mdr in class 3 .
Wow, really?! Is is out of practicality or do you just prefer to run in 4hi? I hear the handling is considerably different. Oh and I checked out your website. When I get to that point in my build I'm coming to you guys for those rear fender skins. They're exactly what I was looking for!

[straightaxle]

Wow, really?! Is is out of practicality or do you just prefer to run in 4hi? I hear the handling is considerably different. Oh and I checked out your website. When I get to that point in my build I'm coming to you guys for those rear fender skins. They're exactly what I was looking for!

Yep, depends on the terrain, sometimes it is more stable to run in 4 hi, like on dry lake beds. Other times it is easier to slide it around in 2 hi. Almost never use 4 low, maybe a couple miles a year. We do everything we can to save those glass spider gears in the 44 front end.

[Norra 1000]

Steve its great you are building a race Bronco, Iam building a 1969 Class 3 Blazer, I saw you live in Portland, I live in Tacoma, about 2 hours away, i go to Portland a lot( Great strip clubs) and i would like to take a look at your project , And let me know when you want to test and we could meet up and compare what we have done,Ron

[retroblazer]

Yep, depends on the terrain, sometimes it is more stable to run in 4 hi, like on dry lake beds. Other times it is easier to slide it around in 2 hi. Almost never use 4 low, maybe a couple miles a year. We do everything we can to save those glass spider gears in the 44 front end.

Speaking of stable, have you guys ever rolled the Bronco? Not to hi-jack, I run in full time 4wd with no low range.

[Brigand]

Steve its great you are building a race Bronco, Iam building a 1969 Class 3 Blazer, I saw you live in Portland, I live in Tacoma, about 2 hours away, i go to Portland a lot( Great strip clubs) and i would like to take a look at your project , And let me know when you want to test and we could meet up and compare what we have done,Ron

I have buddies that come down from WA all the time for the strip clubs!:D Full nudity/full bar - God bless the Oregon state constitution!
I backed off on using the '73 as my race rig. It was an uncut, not super nice, but very straight and rust free early Bronco and a buddy of mine had been wanting it pretty badly so I sold it to him. I'm looking to pick up a 78-79 Bronco for my race rig. I have a lead on a nice 78 up in Sequim. I'll keep you updated for sure. It would be nice to have a NW contingent! I think the 78-79 Bronco wheelbase is more along the lines of your Blazer. Slightly longer than the early Broncos. Which I hear makes for a less jolting ride.

Retro - I've never had the 73 Bronco in a race situation but I wound it it up pretty good off road frequently and I never got close to rolling it. On the street, however, especially in rain-soaked Portland, the Bronco was so light that if you put your foot too far in it around corners the back end would almost always get light and try to come around. I got pretty good at urban drifting during the winter months! Stability-wise I want to say, and somebody else might know better than me, the early Bronco stock track width is roughly 4 inches narrower than the full-size Bronco. I believe the Cervantes put a 78-79 high-pinion front axle on their early Bronco and they could tell you for sure.

[Brigand]

Steve its great you are building a race Bronco, Iam building a 1969 Class 3 Blazer, I saw you live in Portland, I live in Tacoma, about 2 hours away, i go to Portland a lot( Great strip clubs) and i would like to take a look at your project , And let me know when you want to test and we could meet up and compare what we have done,Ron

Also Ron, when you get to the point of testing let me know and I'd love to meet up and help out however I can. I'm new to the sport and I'm interested in meeting new people and soaking up as much knowledge as I can.
I'm a motion picture Teamster so when I'm not working on a project I have a lot of time on my hands and I hope I can be of some assistance.

Steve

[Blanco]

I'm a motion picture Teamster
I'm in Local 399. :D

[Brigand]

I'm in Local 399. :D

Local 305 Portland. We work under the 399 contract. Someday, when you guys are in permits, I'll head down there and join your club. I here you guys get acupuncture visits included in your health coverage!:D What's your grouping?

[Blanco]

:D What's your grouping?

I'm a group 2 & drive a HoneyWagon.
Maybe in attempts to keep this thread on topic we should talk about this Via PM's. :cool:

[Brigand]

Absolutely.

[straightaxle]

Speaking of stable, have you guys ever rolled the Bronco? Not to hi-jack, I run in full time 4wd with no low range.

Yep, didn't even have 10 miles on the truck, but bent the crap out of what sheet metal and roof was on the truck. If you have ever seen pics of the 2000 race, you can see the damage clearly. Duh, on my part! The way it is set up, it makes a very poor short course rig.

[wiley-moeracing]

We also run in full time m4wd hi it makes it more stabil for us, otherwise the back end likes to come out.