Tony Montalto: 1981 Ford Bronco

Truck class: Bronc-ohhh
A fullsize Bronco rollin’ on 54-inch-diameter Claws? How sick is that? When you voted Tony Montalto’s ’81 Bronco into Top Truck, it was sporting 49-inch tires. The rig already had a pair of stout 2½-ton Rockwell axles and plenty of height, so the upgrade to the massive 54s was almost painless.

The Details

Owner name/city: Tony Montalto/Shelton, WA
Occupation: Equipment Operator
Vehicle model: 1981 Ford Bronco
Estimated value: $20,000
Engine/aspiration: Ford 460ci V-8/Holley Truck Avenger 670 cfm carburetor, Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers
Transmission: C6
Transfer case: Borg-Warner 1345
Suspension (f/r): Superlift 12-in-lift leaf springs, Skyjacker shocks, traction bar/Superlift 8-in-lift leaf springs, 6-in-lift blocks, Skyjacker shocks, traction bar
Axles (f/r): 2½-ton Rockwell, Ouverson spool, Toyota pinion brake/2½-ton Rockwell, Ouverson spool, Toyota pinion brake
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 20x12-in steel Stazworks double beadlock
Tires: 54x19.5-20 Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC

Tony Montalto, Team #01

Most looking forward to: “Tank Trap. Little bit of everything in one shot.”
Not looking forward to: “Rock Crawling. Little experience. Prefer MUD!”
Playing in his iPod/CD player: “Tool.”

Inside the Bronco, Montalto has retained the majority of the factory dash. He has added a few aftermarket gauges so he can monitor engine rpm’s, voltage, water temperature, and oil pressure. Other interior mods include a Grant steering wheel, Sparco four-point seatbelts, and a six-point rollcage.
Inside the Bronco, Montalto has retained the majority of the factory dash. He has added a
The big truck has a big-block. It’s a 460ci V-8 and Montalto estimates it produces 350 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. It features a Holley Truck Avenger 670cfm carburetor, MSD ignition, and Optima RedTop and YellowTop batteries. Exhaust is routed to a pair of Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers and through bed-mounted stacks. Bolted to the big-block is a C6 transmission, and it routes power to the Borg-Warner 1345 transfer case. Montalto designed and fabricated both the front and rear driveshafts. The rear uses 1410 U-joints and the front uses a 1410 U-joint at the axle and a High Angle 42-degree CV at the transfer case.
The big truck has a big-block. It’s a 460ci V-8 and Montalto estimates it produces 350 hor
Out back, a pair of 8-inch-lift Superlift leaf springs, 6-inch lift blocks, a traction bar, and a pair of Skyjacker shocks comprise the simple but effective suspension. The 2½-ton Rockwell axle has a Toyota rotor and caliper pinion brake and an Ouverson spool.
Out back, a pair of 8-inch-lift Superlift leaf springs, 6-inch lift blocks, a traction bar