Enduro Bronco

[Dave G]

Ran across this a while ago, and thought I'd share! Enjoy!

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/530779/fullsize/ashleys-bronco.jpg

[Blanco]

So was the Enduro Bronco also Class 3? :confused:

I ask because that Pics shows its rear suspension being linked.
Maybe its just me but I dont see any leafs.. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/6.gif

& it looks like 2 wheel drive, Yet I do see locking Hubs.

Looks more like an 8 than a 3.

[Dave G]

So was the Enduro Bronco also Class 3?
I ask because that Pics shows its rear suspension being linked.
Maybe its just me but I dont see any leafs..
& it looks like 2 wheel drive, Yet I do see locking Hubs.


Yes, it was a 4WD, Yes it was a class 3! Look closely above and behind the rear axle and you'll see a quarter elliptical leaf pack! (As I read the rule book, linked suspension was/is legal in the class, only the springing is restricted!)

The best I remember this Bronco doing was 4th overall in the peninsular 1000! I think that was '95..., or was it '92... not too sure!

[Blanco]

Yes, it was a 4WD
I dont know,
It dont look 4X4 to me.. got any Better pics?
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/530799/fullsize/wmashleys-bronco-close-up.jpg
I dont see a front Diff. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif

Look closely above and behind the rear axle and you'll see a quarter elliptical leaf pack!

Ok I see that now, thanks for pointing it out to my Blind Butt. :o

You know Race trucks, like women are great to look at naked! :)

[Moss2]

I think they used a body double for that nude shot. Looks a little long maybe it was just the stripes they had on the body?

[straightaxle]

Dave, are you sure that's the class 3 truck? I'm with Cam on this one, I don't see the front diff. It looks like the class 8 that they ran, I don't think they had the knock offs on the class 3. Smith and Ashley ran those same hubs (4x4 snouts and hubs) all the way up through their trophy truck, with those flimsy stock Ford hub locks just for decoration.

[Salttoy]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/530844/fullsize/enduro-bronco.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/530845/fullsize/enduro-bronco-back.jpg
Here is a photo card of the Enduro Bronco I got back in the early 90's. I found it a few weeks before the 500. I scanned the front and back for you all to enjoy. - Gary.

[toddz69]

Dave, are you sure that's the class 3 truck? I'm with Cam on this one, I don't see the front diff. It looks like the class 8 that they ran, I don't think they had the knock offs on the class 3. Smith and Ashley ran those same hubs (4x4 snouts and hubs) all the way up through their trophy truck, with those flimsy stock Ford hub locks just for decoration.

That's their Class 8 truck. The Bronco's front end was a little unusual in that the beams' positioning was "backwards", i.e. the passenger side beam was in front of the driver's side one, but it was definitely 4WD. It didn't use knockoffs either, as Moss noted.

Todd Z.

[toddz69]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/530844/fullsize/enduro-bronco.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/530845/fullsize/enduro-bronco-back.jpg
Here is a photo card of the Enduro Bronco I got back in the early 90's. I found it a few weeks before the 500. I scanned the front and back for you all to enjoy. - Gary.

Still have that card hanging on my garage wall too! Good stuff.

Todd Z.

[151FAB]

The Bronco's front end was a little unusual in that the beams' positioning was "backwards", i.e. the passenger side beam was in front of the driver's side one, but it was definitely 4WD.

Todd Z.

Ooo, equal length TTB 4x4...:)

[BajaBronco13]

That thing is a museum piece. Does anyone know what happen to the Enduro Bronco? It should be proudly displayed at the Off Road Hall of Fame.

I often visit Petersen's Museum and I am so disappointed that they do not have on display any off road vehicles, not one desert truck, not one buggy. Come on now, off road has it's place in automotive history. Don't you agree?

[kkspeedracer]

i don't recall twin I beams ever being on a bronc either.....damn and i used to race against them....even won a couple... one being the last nevada 400 1992. i think the last race run on the mint 400 course.

[kkspeedracer]

links are legal...as long as it's coils in the front (bitter subject !!) and leafs in the rear...mounting points are optional.

[Dave G]

I stand corrected on many points! I apologize! I picked up that picture a couple of years ago on RDC, where it was presented as Ashley's bronco, and I took it as such! I guess that goes to show you can't believe everything you read on the internet! (imagine that!)

[kkspeedracer]

i didn't think ashley ever drove the bronco...it was always dan smith when i ran against it..at least that was who was entered.

[toddz69]

i didn't think ashley ever drove the bronco...it was always dan smith when i ran against it..at least that was who was entered.

Dave drove it the first two years. Dan took over for the '91 season, starting at Parker.

Todd Z.

[Dust]

Hijack:p

Would there be much of a market for an equal length TTB set-up?
(LT Obviously)

Dust

[151FAB]

That would be a very expensive kit. Considering that everything including the cross-brace of the frame would be a custom sheet-metal piece. I had considered doing an ultimate equal-length TTB unit with a 9" center section, uniball/heim spindle, custom hubs, etc. You'd end up having to sell it for ten grand (at least) to make up for the labor and matl.

Custom cross member:
The passenger beam needs to pass in front of the driver-side beam because the drive shaft would interfere with lengthening the pass-beam from the stock location.

Sheet-metal construction:
Other than using half of a straight axle for the drive beam this is your only option. Also the axle plunge would be excessive with a equal length TTB and you would have to address this in your design with plenty of room around the passages that the axles pass through.

Custom spindles:
The steering gets tricky because the passenger beam has to pass in front of the pumpkin and then it gets in the way of the steering. To clear this you'd probably need to lengthen the steering arm at the spindles.

Custom steering:
This goes without saying because of the new geometry, the poor original design, and the clearance needed for the front-crossing passenger beam.

Nine inch center section (or equivalent):
The only people who would spend the money on this system are those that know the limitations of the current TTB. They would likely demand a stronger center unit as well. A 9" would be a good choice because of its modular design and the ability to easily adapt it to any independent suspension type of drive (CV or u-joint at the pumpkin). Also you could use an alum. case to save weight, you can get the case in high or low input configuration, and you'd have the easy gear-swap capability too.

Custom hubs:
More strength, bigger brakes, different wheel stud configurations, and again at this point your catering to a higher level of expectations.

You can probably tell that I've researched this (these are just a summary of some of the issues involved). I have designs for this and even a rudimentary set of jigs but I just don't see the market for such an expensive piece of old technology. Some day, when I have more time and money, I might just build one for bragging rights.

[RelentlessPursuitRacing]

That would be a very expensive kit. Considering that everything including the cross-brace of the frame would be a custom sheet-metal piece. I had considered doing an ultimate equal-length TTB unit with a 9" center section, uniball/heim spindle, custom hubs, etc. You'd end up having to sell it for ten grand (at least) to make up for the labor and matl.

Custom cross member:
The passenger beam needs to pass in front of the driver-side beam because the drive shaft would interfere with lengthening the pass-beam from the stock location.

Sheet-metal construction:
Other than using half of a straight axle for the drive beam this is your only option. Also the axle plunge would be excessive with a equal length TTB and you would have to address this in your design with plenty of room around the passages that the axles pass through.

Custom spindles:
The steering gets tricky because the passenger beam has to pass in front of the pumpkin and then it gets in the way of the steering. To clear this you'd probably need to lengthen the steering arm at the spindles.

Custom steering:
This goes without saying because of the new geometry, the poor original design, and the clearance needed for the front-crossing passenger beam.

Nine inch center section (or equivalent):
The only people who would spend the money on this system are those that know the limitations of the current TTB. They would likely demand a stronger center unit as well. A 9" would be a good choice because of its modular design and the ability to easily adapt it to any independent suspension type of drive (CV or u-joint at the pumpkin). Also you could use an alum. case to save weight, you can get the case in high or low input configuration, and you'd have the easy gear-swap capability too.

Custom hubs:
More strength, bigger brakes, different wheel stud configurations, and again at this point your catering to a higher level of expectations.

You can probably tell that I've researched this (these are just a summary of some of the issues involved). I have designs for this and even a rudimentary set of jigs but I just don't see the market for such an expensive piece of old technology. Some day, when I have more time and money, I might just build one for bragging rights.

Wow, you just wrote down almost exactly the conversation I had with my buddy, Jack (IronbenderII) last night. We still want to do this (very much so) but because of time and money contraints it will go on the back burner for now and I will likely be running a more conventional stock type set up for now and may re-visit this later. I would love to talk to you more about this though and discuss some of our ideas and some more of the issues. Jerry

[151FAB]

It might be a good thread to start in "the pits" section of this site. Its been tossed around on a few other sites as well but it takes on a certain urban legend type of status because nobody these days is interested in actually building one, especially after they figure out all the work involved. Back when class8 was still a premier class and class3 was relevant you could consider pumping big money and research into these rigs but now the TTB, in racing, is surviving only because of lack of competition. I'm still a TTB fan but the market is small.

[Stephen]

Notice also the 4 link-ish front end instead of radius arms.

[steveG]

Hijack:p

Would there be much of a market for an equal length TTB set-up?
(LT Obviously)

Dust

Keep in mind that although OE unequal length TTB and TIB front ends have beams of different beams and dimensions, the actual wheel geometry between the two front wheels is equal (in stock form). Adding longer radius arms upsets this geometry but doesn't appear to significantly affect driveability.

I've always found it interesting that so many fabricators are so bent on making equal length beams that they don't stop to think about building symmetrical suspension geometry.

[straightaxle]

Have a look at this. I believe this is the Enduro Bronco in action, late 80's.

YouTube - 1989 Fireworks 250

It has that very familiar short wheelbase shuffle.

[retroblazer]

Funny, it doesn't look much different than we do. This truck has been elevated to legend status, so I thought it would be sailing through this stuff.

[steveG]

I thought the same thing.

I could be way off, but I have a feeling the equal length front end is no where near as beneficial as many believe. It's doubtful that the benefits outweighed the amount of labor involved in building the front end.

[Moss2]

Funny, it doesn't look much different than we do. This truck has been elevated to legend status, so I thought it would be sailing through this stuff.

Yes I thought so to. Wasnt that the first year they ran that though? I think they rebuilt it a little later with more trick stuff but who knows. All those super trick pre run Broncos(4x4s) dont exactly go ripping past at the Primm prerun either. I think they need to lose about a ton of weight.

[toddz69]

Yes I thought so to. Wasnt that the first year they ran that though? I think they rebuilt it a little later with more trick stuff but who knows. All those super trick pre run Broncos(4x4s) dont exactly go ripping past at the Primm prerun either. I think they need to lose about a ton of weight.

Yeah, that was its first incarnation. Hadn't gone to quarter elliptics or the sportier front end at that point.

Todd Z.