When Special Events introduced Tough Truck racing in the early '90s, most competitors hit the track in their daily drivers. Through the years, Tough Trucks have evolved into specialized machinery. Today, these trucks are designed to handle a variety of tasks. They must accelerate fast, exhibit stability when cornering at high speed, and repetitively jump and land without grenading parts. So what makes 'em tick? Following is some of the tech behind two Modified Class Tough Trucks.
GENERAL
Owner: Joseph Leone, Largo, Florida
Vehicle/Model: '78 Chevy C10, custom rollcage welded to frame, diamond-plate and aluminum interior
ENGINE
Type: 362ci Chevy V-8
Modifications: Engine set back 12 inches in frame and beefed with an Eagle crankshaft and piston rods, SRP pistons, custom ground roller cam, Jegs 220cc Runner heads, Edelbrock Super Victor intake, and Holley 750-cfm HP Series carburetor
Horsepower (estimated): 600
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission: Turbo 350 with modified TCI manual valvebody and 3,800-rpm stall converter
Transfer case: NP203 with custom lengthened front yoke so the CV-jointed front driveshaft could be replaced with a standard 1-ton driveshaft; heavy-duty transfer-case frame crossmembers
SUSPENSION
Front: Custom three-link with track bar, aluminum swing arm with chromoly spherical rod ends, King coilover shocks with "custom and secret valving"
Rear: Custom triangulated three-link, aluminum swing arm with chromoly spherical rod ends, King coilover shocks with "custom and secret valving"
Total wheel travel (f/r, in.): 24/30 (limited during competition)
AXLES/DIFFERENTIALS
Front: 8 1/2-inch ring gear GM, Auburn limited-slip, custom steering with relocated 1-ton steering box
Rear: GM 12-bolt, Moser 30-spline axles, Detroit mini-spool
Ring and pinion: 3.42:1
WHEELS/TIRES
Wheels: 15x10 TrailReady bead locks
Tires: 33x15.50-15 Mickey Thompson Baja Claw
GENERAL
Owner: Rory Campbell, Portland, Indiana
Vehicle/Model: '03 Ford Ranger Boatec fiberglass body, modified early Bronco frame, 46-point rollcage
ENGINE
Type: 366ci Ford V-8
Modifications: Engine and transmission lowered 5 inches, Trick Flow Specialties heads, Aries pistons, Scat crankshaft, Summit H-beam piston rods, Edelbrock Pro Flo fuel injection, custom headers, Flowmaster mufflers, MSD ignition, Painless Performance wiring harness, Flex-a-lite radiator and dual electric fans
Horsepower (estimated): 650
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission: Russ Moore-built C4 automatic with Art Carr valvebody and shifter
Transfer case: Dana 20 with custom 32-spline output shafts
SUSPENSION
Front: Custom three-link, Sway-A-Way coilover shocks
Rear: Custom four-link, Sway-A-Way coilovers shocks
Total wheel travel (f/r, in.): 14/18 (limited during competition)
AXLES/DIFFERENTIALS
Front: Moser-built 9-inch Ford, 31-spline Moser axleshafts, Auburn limited-slip, Wilwood Engineering four-piston calipers, custom rotors, Appleton 2.5:1 rack-and-pinion steering with custom mount
Rear: Moser-built 9-inch Ford, 35-spline axleshafts, Detroit Locker, Wilwood Engineering four-piston calipers, custom rotors
Ring and pinion: 6.33:1 or 3.73:1, depending on course
WHEELS/TIRES
Wheels: 15x10.5 Pro Comp with custom bead locks
Tires: 31x12.50-15 Pro Comp Mud Terrain (front), Pro Comp Xterrain (rear)