Boyd Jaynes from California used to be a professional photographer, but after contacting the first NORRA 1000 Rally in 2009, Jaynes decided to buy a car to participate in the race. So he began to prepare a racing driver’s license, and at the same time he was looking for a suitable car to modify. Finally, he found a 1968 Ford Bronco. “This Bronco has no off-road history, but it does look very racing.” . The car’s previous owner added a roll cage, but the connection to the frame wasn’t good enough, so Jaynes had to upgrade the roll cage too.
The gearbox of the original car is a three-speed manual gearbox, and now it has been upgraded to a four-speed automatic gearbox; the suspension part is of course the key upgrade, and now this Bronco has a new four-link suspension; in addition, the 2.0 avoidance of Fox Zhen should also perform well in the game. There is nothing special in terms of power. Jaynes said that the power of this engine is sufficient, and there have not been too many changes for the time being. However, Jaynes replaced the hood with a lighter fiberglass material to save weight.
After seven races in NORRA, Jaynes and his Bronco have won four firsts, one third and one fourth, and failed to finish the remaining one due to a gearbox failure. In the overall score list, Jaynes has already ranked eighth. Jaynes and his ride also won the Steve McQueen Memorial Award at the 2016 NORRA Mexican 1000. Next, let’s take a closer look at the modification of this car.
Under the hood is a Ford 5.7-liter Cleveland V8 engine mated to a Ford C4 automatic transmission and a Dana 20-spec transfer case. The cylinder head of the engine was replaced with a custom Sanderson product, the ignition coil used MSD products, and the exhaust system used a MagnaFlow product with a ceramic coating. After participating in the first race, Jaynes upgraded the power steering pump, and the cooling system was also fully upgraded to ensure that this V8 engine can adapt to the state of the race.
Even by today’s standards the suspension is very strong, with the combination of PAC Racing springs and Fox 2.0 shocks delivering excellent performance. MasterCraft Racing branded restraint straps keep the suspension from stretching too much when the car is in the air. In addition, the front wheels use Wilwood brake calipers, which can provide more power and reliability is also very good.
The interior of the rear transaxle housing has also been upgraded, with a 3.5:1 ratio and an Eaton Detroit differential lock. Although the suspension is still in the form of leaf springs, it is custom-made by Deaver Suspension; Fox 2.0 shocks have also been replaced. The rear brake system also uses Wilwood products.
The facilities in the car are very simple, and everything is practical. MasterCraft seats and safety belts ensure that Jaynes and the navigator can control the steering wheel of the Deist racing car steadily during the race. There is no extra entertainment equipment in the car, only a communication system for PCI competitions.
The job of the navigator is not easy. The display screen on the side of the co-pilot can provide navigation services. Of course, the participating vehicles are usually equipped with an iPhone as an auxiliary, and this mobile phone holder is also a product developed for the competition.
The factory twin fuel tanks were ditched in favor of the Jaz’s 132-litre fuel tank. The roll cage on the car is very thick and has a wide range of coverage. In addition to the suspended spare tire at the rear, a fan and a dedicated cooling system are also installed to cool down the fuel tank.
The bumper was replaced with a Raceco USA tube frame structure, and 4 R-46 LED spotlights were added. In addition, the two headlights also support LED light sources.
The front axle uses a Dana 44 axle housing, and the two ends are connected with 15×8 American Racing AR969 Ansen off-road rims and 33×12.50R15 General Grabber MT tires.
