Aussie Bronco Dances into the Low 9s: Truckin’ Fast Wednesday

Bronco has a stock-looking body, but it packs a 411-cubic inch stroked V8 and a big ProCharger.

The Ford Bronco in this week’s Truckin’ Fast Wednesday video might look familiar. We have talked about this Australia-based SUV in the past, with its gigantic wheelstand launches and elapsed times in the high 9s and low 10s. However, since we last looked at this classic Bronco, the owner has made some changes that have made it considerably quicker. It no longer does the huge wheelstand, but it is still a handful to get down the track under hard throttle.

Rob’s Wicked Bronco

According to the Fullboost YouTube channel, this 1980s Ford Bronco is owned and driven by a gentleman named Rob. When we last talked about this crazy-quick SUV, it was powered by a 427-cubic inch big block that was fitted with a nitrous oxide system. That setup led to big wheelstands and elapsed times in the high 9-second range and the low 10-second range, with the nose way up in the air.

Since then, Rob has replaced the 427 with a 411-cubic inch stroker motor and rather than nitrous, this new engine features a ProCharger F2 supercharger.

We don’t know what he is running for a transmission, but it is clearly an automatic. Also, to get out of the hole as well as this big SUV does, this Bronco has to have a significant amount of chassis and suspension work.

However, while much of what is under the skin is comprised of aftermarket upgrades, the body and interior of this Bronco aren’t far from stock. The wheel-and-tire package is a dead giveaway, but aside from the low-rise cowl induction hood, the body of this classic SUV looks just how it did when it rolled off of the factory line. On the inside, there is plenty of factory beige, including a set of racing buckets that have been upholstered to blend into the original look.

Working the New Build

The video begins with a look at this Bronco running with its old engine and a close-up look at the new, supercharged setup. We also get a look at the trick gauge setup before heading out to the track.

As you can see, the wheelie bars are gone and this Bronco is leaving the line very differently than it did with the nitrous-injected big block. It no longer stands on end, but once the boost hits, the back end of this SUV is all over the place. We get to see a handful of sketchy runs that result in no time, but we get to see two good, fairly clear runs.

On the first, starting just past the one-minute mark of the video, the big Bronco runs a 9.65 at 147 miles per hour. On this run, the rear end dances around a bit, but the driver is able to keep the hammer down through the top end with solid results.

The second and best run of the video starts just after the two-minute mark. On this run, everything comes together on the launch and traction through the mid-range is good, allowing this 1980s Ford Bronco to run a 9.41 at nearly 148 miles per hour.

This Bronco sounds as great as it runs, so crank up your speakers and enjoy!

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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