Wildfire's Bio & Links Page!
It's A Girl Thing !
Tour
of the entire website!
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Here
Or follow the links below to the pages that you want to see !
Our Trip To Moab Utah
" For the 34th Annual Moab
Easter Jeep Safari "
Click
here for the Full Story !
Updated
on 7-1-2000
Click
Here For the Build Up Pics and Story!
Click
Here for the Dusy Trail Damage Pics & Story
Sand Mountain Nevada !
August 1999
One half hour outside of Fallon Nevada..
Click Here for the Trip Info
& Pics
For
Sale Links
Click
to see what I have for sale..Bronco Stuff, Mustang Stuff, and
Electronic
Stuff !
~~ Wanted ~~
I am looking for
paddle tires, for 15" x 10" rims..
To use at Sand
Mountain Nevada !
If you have any,
and want to sell or trade let me know !
I would prefer
a set of 4, but would consider a set of 2..
Thanx Kelli Ann
History
I am a 1969 Ford Bronco, that has
been heavily modified to perform off road in a variety of
environments.
I run the famous Rubicon trail, all summer long, as well as the Moab
Easter Jeep Safari, in Moab
Utah. I have also been on the Dusy Trail in Central
California,"wow
that is one long rough trail". I've also spent many happy and
formative
years in Albuquerque New Mexico, where most of my changes were made,
due
to a fantastic club there "The Albuquerque Off Road Runners", and a
really
good friend Steve. I not only made great friends,
but grew into the hard-core
machine
that I am today! As part of this club I regularly attended, "Southwest
Four Wheel Drive Association meetings", and was also a Search &
Rescue vehicle for a couple of years! I also got a taste for
running
sand dunes in our clubs favorite spot just outside of Albuquerque!
There
was one giant dune there, and lots of smaller ones that created a
fantastic
playground for 4-wheel drive vehicles, and club functions. During
this sand running faze, right after I received my nice new 351 Windsor
under my hood, I attended the Amarillo Texas "Sand Drags" and what a
blast
that was! Although I was placed in a class with 350 Chevy powered Jeeps
because of my engine, and even though I outweighed the Jeeps by about
2500
pounds, I ran the drags anyway. The Jeep guys were really cool, and
loaned
me some paddle tires to have a little more fun with! The Jeeps
were
all running fiberglass bodies for racing and had dual quad carbs, and
manual
racing trannys. They would rev em up to 5 grand and then dump the
clutch
at the green light and all I would see is rooster tails, as I flew down
the track. I still ended up with a beautiful trophy for "Best
Engineered
4x4" that was given out by the local club there, that ironically turned
out to be bigger by far than the ones that the racers won. There was a
lot of good natured ribbing about that ! We all knew that my rig
was made for hard core wheeling that would eat these guys alive should
they end up in my element. Much as they were eating me alive in
theirs.
GRIN But all in all it was great fun, and that's what it's all
about
right ? I was very glad that I attended this wonderful
event.
I would gladly go again but now live in Sacramento Ca. Which is
only
about 30 hours drive away from Amarillo Texas, give or take an
hour.
LOL
Trophy & Pics
The smaller trophy on top is 3rd place in
the
Moab, Utah Sand Hill Climb at the Easter Jeep Safari!
The larger trophy on the bottom is from the
Amarillo Sand Drags for "Best Engineered Vehicle"!
When I took the victory lap around the
track
Larry Alexander's two small children, rode around with me .
Larry Alexander was a member of the Tejano 4 Wheelers in Amarillo
Texas,
who passed away, and the trophy was awarded in his honor. I was
proud
to take his children for a victory lap, and talk to them about their
dad,
of who they were rightfully very proud ! His son asked if I knew his
dad,
and I told him no, but I was sure that we would have been good friends,
as we both like to build tough trucks!
I was originally born in a
Ford
plant in Dearborn Michigan, but didn't really start living until this
nice
gal named Kelli bought me from a used car lot in 1987! Since then
I have undergone alot of changes to make me the hard-core off road
vehicle
that I am today! Some of them very painful I might add, but very
worth it in the long run. Kelli wanted a vehicle that would
perform,
in sand, mud, rocks, snow, and on the slick rock trails of Moab Utah,
as
well as the famous Rubicon Trail, which the whole club dreamed
about!
This brought about many changes in a few short, and intense years, and
a few broken nails. But it has been well worth it ! Oh by
the
way did I mention that this is a GIRL THANG ? GRIN
Yup me a girl. Imagine
that.
See ya on the trails !
Kelli Ann *S*
Stats:
Year/Make/Model: 1969 Ford Bronco
~~ Under the Hood ~~
Engine: 351 Windsor "estimated
horsepower
350+ HP",
Air and fuel
are mixed thru a 700 cfm Holley Electronic "DI" Projection unit which
also
includes a Holley Projection Upgraded high flow pump, helping to meet
fuel
demands, under high rpm sand runs.
The fuel and
air mixture flow thru the Projection unit, then through an Edelbrock
Performer
4 barrel intake manifold to split the mixture, down thru 1966 small
chamber
Mustang heads, housing Crane
Roller Rockers, with Crane Hi Po
Valve Springs, and hi po valves with a three angle valve job,
which are told what to do by a
Competition Cams 270 degree "Extreme 4x4 camshaft."
Then the fuel/air mix is
compressed
to 9:5:1 by forged pistons, and include chrome moly rings.
This healthy combo will provide
pure, mean dependable power on regular gas..
NOTE:
The original
ratio of this motor for the last 10 years or so, was 10:5:1, and
although it was very powerful, it was a bit temperamental, in the fuel
quality department. So hence the above changes.
Spark is
delivered
to this potent mixture via a remanufactured stock distributor, with the
advance curve reconfigured to take full advantage of the horsepower,
and
torque curves of this motor.
The
distributor
triggers a Jacobs Omni Magnum system that fires the
sparks, via Jacobs Energy Team
wires, and into Autolite RF11YC Copper Core plugs..
NOTE:
The
Jacobs
System requires copper core plugs to operate with it's computer system..
Edelbrock "Signature Series" High Clearance Valve Covers, & Air Cleaner, with a K&N High Flow air filter, top off this engine adding both beauty and functionality to this motor..
A TRW hi
flow
oil pump, with a James Duff 351 conversion deep sump oil pan, take care
of the oiling duties. Exhaust is handled by James Duff headers, and
Flowmaster
Mufflers, via a custom made
"high clearance"exhaust system,
that not only is tucked up above the frame rails in the middle, but is
wound around the frame in the rear, to end up over the top right and
left
sides of the vehicle, with
adjustable tips.
Cooling is handled with
a
high flow water pump with a Super Cooler pop riveted to the vanes of
the
pump, then into a custom made 5 core radiator, " Yes you read that
right,
3 thick and two thin cores to provide maximum cooling in a tight
area.
It works very well. There is also a 1965 Ford 292 truck fan that
has a much higher pitch to the blades and provides maximum air flow,
even
at idle.
Then there is also a 18" Electric
fan mounted in front of the radiator, between the radiator and power
steering,
and transmission coolers. Just in case..
Look at the background pic to see the exhaust exiting out just in front of the rear bumper, and over the top of the rocker panel protector, which is part of the rear bumper..
A homemade
on
board air system using a Tecumseh air compressor "$10.00 at any junk
yard",
feeds air into the entire roll cage, and provides air to power air
tools,
and air up tires, as well as blow out the interior after a few long
days
on dusty trails. A K&N mini filter filters out the
impurities,
giving me clean compressed air flow, at all four corners of the
vehicle,
and under the engine compartment, as well
as to the ARB Air Locker, which
resides in the front pumpkin..
A Premier
Power
Welder is also mounted under the hood, which not only provides welding
voltage, and keeps the entire dual battery system charged, but also
provides
household ac 110 volt current for anything we like.. Margaritas anyone?
After we are in camp of course !
Even Farther Down Under
Transmission: Race Built C-4
Automatic,
custom made 2800 high stall torque converter, to absorb some of the
horsepower
and torque @ the low end!
Transfer Case: Dana 20 Completely rebuilt,.
Suspension:
Superlift 3" coils/front, custom
made spring pack in rear, dual Rancho RS 7000 shocks @ all four wheels,
custom made Kicker shock brackets with RS 7000 shocks set to stage 3,
to
handle the horsepower, and keep the springs from wrapping up under hard
acceleration.
Axles: Front
Front is a 1977 Bronco Dana 44
with Warns new high strength
alloy
axles,
and solid U-joints, disc
brakes, and an ARB Air Locker, pushing 3:92 gears!
Axles:
Rear
Is a 1973 large bearing Ford 9'
housing carrying 3:90 gears,
a 31 Spline Detroit Locker, and drum brakes, "soon to be a disc".
Drive train:
Drive Shafts were rebuilt with
over sized tubing for strength, and lengthened to accommodate the 3"
suspension
lift, all drive shafts were assembled with solid u-joints throughout
for
strength.
Tires & Wheels:
35 x 12.50/15's, BFG Mud Kings,
mounted on 10" chrome modular wheels.
Yes BF Goodrich makes a 35" Mud
King tire for Americas Tire..
They are also called Discount
Tire in New Mexico, and surrounding areas .
They are bitchin, and super
tough.
They also last much longer than BFG's usual tires..
The compound is not as soft, and
works much better off road !
Paint ~~ Interior ~~
Steering
Paint was laid down in and out
by P & P Auto Painting in Sacramento Ca..
I did all of the body work,
modifications,
flare cutting, etc. The paint is Electric Yellow Urethane.
The roll cage was built by a
prick
here in Sacramento, that even though they did a pretty good job,
treated
me like crap. Because he didn't like my looks. So his business
will
get no mention here..
The entire interior has been
redone,
with Pro Scat Racing Seats, new black carpet, with a heat resistant
under
liner. The back seat was recovered to match the two new front seats.
The stereo system pounds out 600
watts of pure clean sound, thru a Kenwood Pull Out Cd/ Receiver, and a
Kohler amp. Tunes are released thru Pioneer 250 watt 6x9's in the
rear, which reside in a custom made weather proof enclosure, and out
the
front thru 100 watt Panasonic truck boxes, also weather proof
The dash was custom made by me,
and it took 2 1/2 weeks to reconfigure the entire dash, including
wiring
harness, upgraded fuses, and switch locations, as well as a tilt
steering
wheel out of a 1974 Ford LTD, which turns a 1974 2 wheel drive, Ford
Power
Steering Box that is held in place by a
Vintage Broncos bracket, to give
perfect placement of the drag link without any dropped pitman arm.
NOTE:
You must have a minimum 3" lift
to use this system, as the new box does relocate the pitman arm lower
than
it was in the stock box..
The power steering pump is a GM
pump, that has been modified to fit on to the original Ford pump
bracket,
and also has a special smaller pulley that gives the box full pressure
at low rock crawling speeds.
The p-s hoses were custom made
to match the new box, and pump..
NOTE:
The GM pump does not have to be
used with this system, but is so much quieter and stronger than the
Ford
version, that it is awesome, and well worth the effort of changing it
out..
You will no longer have that
annoying
Ford pump howl, when wheeling.
There is also a cooler plumbed
into the system in front of the radiator to keep it cool under hard
wheeling
in tight places. It will extend the life of your pump, and box
considerable.
Money well spent..
Links & Downloads
&
Kelli's Fav's!
With points of view
included!
Check out my Dad & Mom's
Bronco
Web Page!
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Canyon/8407/broncopage.html
My favorite off road
magazine
is
"4 Wheel Drive & Sport
Utility"
!
Which is funny because I ran into
the editor of said magazine in the middle of the Rubicon, while we were
waiting for some of the local crazies to upright their Willy"s Jeep
that
they had intentionally rolled! But anyway while we were waiting the
editor
and his friends whipped out a blender and made some killer trail
margaritas,
that we gladly accepted since we had been wheelin for about 4 hours,
and
were heading back to camp. Just a note, we don't drink and drive
on the trail, but in this instance we gladly accepted as we were bone
dry,
and they were light margaritas. We do our light drinking in camp,
and stay in control.
From all of the stupidity that
I have encountered caused by 50% alcohol and 50% natural stupidity, I
don't
hang or wheel with anyone who abuses alcohol either on or off the
trail!
I have seen the above combination, cause rollovers, major injuries,
killed
animals, near fatalities to friends, girlfriends, and family members,
not
to mention little children, etc! Alcohol use doesn't belong in
any
vehicle while driving, on or off road. By the way the Moab Easter
Jeep Safari is an alcohol free event, which had to be enforced both by
the club and the local sheriff's department, due to the above 50/50
combination,
and the results there of, after years of abuse by a few wheelers who
think
that a cooler full of beer is part of four wheeling! That's my
ten
cents worth, that I had to get off my chest!
Email Me If You Wanna !
Click on the email box below. : )
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