AutoUnionTech's Carbon Grey Badlands / Squatch Daily / Off-Road Build

[autouniontech]

Hello everyone! I never really introduced myself anywhere, and some say that my life is interesting so I figured I may as well do a little bit of that leading into my Bronco.

To keep things short, I am a Crew Chief and Lead Mechanic in Professional Sports Car Racing. It's a lot of work and a lot of travel, but above all has given me a real sense of purpose and drive while being able to enjoy myself. It also has provided me with a unique perspective and skills for building and modifying my personal vehicles. (I'll attach some pictures of my work in an additional post for those curious!)

Now, to my truck. This is actually my second one (had to get the dealership to buy my first one back, a CPO '21 due to some "issues" with the title history and undisclosed condition)

(The day I picked it up)

Didn't stay stock for long, had some lights laying around from my old Power Wagon that I threw on. I utilized the factory fog harness (added the lighting switch module with front and rear foglights) and had the Yellow SAE Rigid pods on that, then all the others via the Upfitters.

Then I picked up some Yokohama M/T G003's in 37x12.50r17, which also happy be the same tires I ran on my Power Wagon, and had a few used extras laying around for spares.

Gonna speed through the rest of the "basics" here in relative order of install...

Zone 2.5" Level
BORA 1.25" Wheel Spacers
Fabtech Rear Track bar relocation
SuperPro Tubular UCA
BroAddict side steps
67designs full length accessory rail (with QuadLock wireless charger set-up)
Turn Off-road HD Tailgate reinforcement and adjustable tire carrier
Mountains 2 Metal lower control arm skids, rear shock guards, and dual rear antenna mounts
Zroadz Baja Bar
Color-matched Power coated wheel rings (x8, tma surprise later)

After that I left it pretty much alone for most of the year, due to my work schedule. In the late summer and early fall I got a kick to do more high tier stuff, changing up and adding lights, etc etc....

I got inspiration from Gi_Jo_Nathan to cut up a Rough Country hidden winch and make it really tight and discrete, but had to overcome the ACC sensor and gearbox cooler in the way. So, I picked up the following:

Wagner Tuning high mount intercooler
SCAR 12K Winch
Bay Area Fab remote winch solenoid mount

I had spend probably 3 weekends at work on making it all fit to my liking, lots of cutting and welding to get everything else as happy as possible. Hopefully the pictures detail it well!

Overall, the hardest part of this was locating and installed the fairlead. I actually cut out the piece from the RC skid plate, and welded it into the Mod bumper at the bottom as shown:

While I was doing this I also installed the JKS max clearance kit, Broken Innovation FDU (Diff) Drop kit, Boomba intake plenum spacers, Injen Intake, and Ford Performance ProCal tune.

Then came the fun times of custom wiring (I actually enjoy it when it goes well, hahah)

I installed some rear chase lights, controlled by an Upfitter switch, and the Rigid Chase/3rd brake light kit in the spare, with the strobe controlled by the Rear Fog button in installed when I bought the truck.

Then came new A-pillar lights, ditch lights, Baja Bar lights (still not satisfied with them), and front under carriage/rock lights (will add on to these as time passes)

Most recently I installed a set of MetalTech 4x4 Sidewinder Sliders, that were bed-lined locally. Took a little bit of playing to get the hardware happy, but I'm super stoked on them!

With this weekends sales I will have the following to install in the coming months (it's cold, and work is super busy, no off-season in racing)...

Dobinsons MRR 3-Way adjustable Coilovers
Metal Cloak Upper and Lower rear arms
4wp Adjustable Rear Track Bar (not excited about the exposed rod-end living in Ohio, but for the price I couldn't say no).

Cheers!

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[autouniontech]

As promised, some photos of my daily grind (I actually just started a new job with a new team racing IMSA GTP Prototype's, so the Porsche's are old news, though I do love them).

In my "spare time" I try to take some road trips, previously with my Power Wagon, and in the future with my Bronco with my custom built Overland trailer sitting on matching SAS beadlocks and 37's...

Some trip pics:

I also occasionally venture south of the border to Crew/Mechanic/Chase for some friends in Baja (won in class in '23 and 2nd in class this year, which secured the season class championship)...

 

[Incinr8]

Welcome.

 

[a_ponce]

Awesomeness…

 

[KABQ]

Great user name. My dad raised me on F1 and speed record cars from the 30s. The Type C is one of the most beautiful cars ever built.

I'm also a WEC/IMSA fan, so hell yeah. I even got to go to le Mans in 2019.

Your build looks great! Don't stop spending money now!

 

[autouniontech]

Great user name. My dad raised me on F1 and speed record cars from the 30s. The Type C is one of the most beautiful cars ever built.

I'm also a WEC/IMSA fan, so hell yeah. I even got to go to le Mans in 2019.

Your build looks great! Don't stop spending money now!

Thank you!

I always had a passion for cars, but didn't grow up in any environment conducive to driving that passion forward (other than Lego's and Hot Wheels). In my early teens I stumbled upon Audi's 'Truth In 24' Documentary, and as much as I loved watching cars race, seeing the Human Aspect on display in the races really drove home an outlet that stuck with me forever, and knowing that German cars were the most difficult and specialized cars to work on, I set out to learn as much as I could to leverage a pathway into Top Tier Endurance racing. So moving through tire/general service shops, up to VW and Audi dealers, eventually relocating to get into specialty Street car performance shops, then with some perseverance and sheer luck I made contacts and friends with track rats doing amateur racing. So on and so forth, fast-forward nearly 20 years and I've pit-crewed and ran cars in 4 Daytona 24hr's, won numerous races in Carrera Cup North America, multiple Championships in other Porsche single make series, numerous Podiums in SRO GT World Challenge, and more.....

And, come January, will be back in Daytona on a top level factory Prototype team, not so different than the guys I viewed as heros in the Audi documentary all those years ago, it really is remarkable when I take the time to think about it!

 

[gerby151]

Nice setup and mods! Really like that trailer and thinking about something like that as I have a 2 door Badlands and could use some extra room for trips. Also if you get to VIR for work let me know. Randy

 

[mack092]

Hello everyone! I never really introduced myself anywhere, and some say that my life is interesting so I figured I may as well do a little bit of that leading into my Bronco.

To keep things short, I am a Crew Chief and Lead Mechanic in Professional Sports Car Racing. It's a lot of work and a lot of travel, but above all has given me a real sense of purpose and drive while being able to enjoy myself. It also has provided me with a unique perspective and skills for building and modifying my personal vehicles. (I'll attach some pictures of my work in an additional post for those curious!)

Now, to my truck. This is actually my second one (had to get the dealership to buy my first one back, a CPO '21 due to some "issues" with the title history and undisclosed condition)

(The day I picked it up)

Didn't stay stock for long, had some lights laying around from my old Power Wagon that I threw on. I utilized the factory fog harness (added the lighting switch module with front and rear foglights) and had the Yellow SAE Rigid pods on that, then all the others via the Upfitters.

Then I picked up some Yokohama M/T G003's in 37x12.50r17, which also happy be the same tires I ran on my Power Wagon, and had a few used extras laying around for spares.

Gonna speed through the rest of the "basics" here in relative order of install...

Zone 2.5" Level
BORA 1.25" Wheel Spacers
Fabtech Rear Track bar relocation
SuperPro Tubular UCA
BroAddict side steps
67designs full length accessory rail (with QuadLock wireless charger set-up)
Turn Off-road HD Tailgate reinforcement and adjustable tire carrier
Mountains 2 Metal lower control arm skids, rear shock guards, and dual rear antenna mounts
Zroadz Baja Bar
Color-matched Power coated wheel rings (x8, tma surprise later)

After that I left it pretty much alone for most of the year, due to my work schedule. In the late summer and early fall I got a kick to do more high tier stuff, changing up and adding lights, etc etc....

I got inspiration from Gi_Jo_Nathan to cut up a Rough Country hidden winch and make it really tight and discrete, but had to overcome the ACC sensor and gearbox cooler in the way. So, I picked up the following:

Wagner Tuning high mount intercooler
SCAR 12K Winch
Bay Area Fab remote winch solenoid mount

I had spend probably 3 weekends at work on making it all fit to my liking, lots of cutting and welding to get everything else as happy as possible. Hopefully the pictures detail it well!

Overall, the hardest part of this was locating and installed the fairlead. I actually cut out the piece from the RC skid plate, and welded it into the Mod bumper at the bottom as shown:

While I was doing this I also installed the JKS max clearance kit, Broken Innovation FDU (Diff) Drop kit, Boomba intake plenum spacers, Injen Intake, and Ford Performance ProCal tune.

Then came the fun times of custom wiring (I actually enjoy it when it goes well, hahah)

I installed some rear chase lights, controlled by an Upfitter switch, and the Rigid Chase/3rd brake light kit in the spare, with the strobe controlled by the Rear Fog button in installed when I bought the truck.

Then came new A-pillar lights, ditch lights, Baja Bar lights (still not satisfied with them), and front under carriage/rock lights (will add on to these as time passes)

Most recently I installed a set of MetalTech 4x4 Sidewinder Sliders, that were bed-lined locally. Took a little bit of playing to get the hardware happy, but I'm super stoked on them!

With this weekends sales I will have the following to install in the coming months (it's cold, and work is super busy, no off-season in racing)...

Dobinsons MRR 3-Way adjustable Coilovers
Metal Cloak Upper and Lower rear arms
4wp Adjustable Rear Track Bar (not excited about the exposed rod-end living in Ohio, but for the price I couldn't say no).

Cheers!

Why Dobinson’s ??

 

[Ellis Family Garage]

That is a pretty sweet winch set up, looks awesome.

 

[Cobrafang]

As promised, some photos of my daily grind (I actually just started a new job with a new team racing IMSA GTP Prototype's, so the Porsche's are old news, though I do love them).

Ok that is the worst daily grind I would imagine. You must leave immediately and let me take your please. I am so jealous....so very cool man!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[autouniontech]

Nice setup and mods! Really like that trailer and thinking about something like that as I have a 2 door Badlands and could use some extra room for trips. Also if you get to VIR for work let me know. Randy

I used to with my old team, we'd be there 2-3 times a year. But with the new team our cars don't race there cause they're too fast unfortunately....VIR is one of my favorite places!

The trailer was custom ground up, I purchased the frame as an unfinished project from a Honda/Acura development engineer and picked up where he left off, ultimately turning the plans up a notch and really outfitting it for be off grid for weeks at a time if I wanted. Still gotta do a lot of work but it is mechanically finished.

 

[autouniontech]

Why Dobinson’s ??

Adjustability
Reliability
Feedback from the Toyota community (my friend has a 4Runner on MRR's and loves them, and he puts on 10x the miles I do)
And Finally Price

Not everyone needs 3-ways of adjustment, but being as I'm a suspension and braking lover, side effects of my job, I appreciate being able to make small adjustments as I see fit. The only shocks I'd love to spring for other than these, as for features, is LiveValve/E-Click's cause who doesn't love can-bus integrated suspension tuning?

 

[zyglyrox]

Good stuff Catch ya around Mid-Ohio!

 

[mack092]

Adjustability
Reliability
Feedback from the Toyota community (my friend has a 4Runner on MRR's and loves them, and he puts on 10x the miles I do)
And Finally Price

Not everyone needs 3-ways of adjustment, but being as I'm a suspension and braking lover, side effects of my job, I appreciate being able to make small adjustments as I see fit. The only shocks I'd love to spring for other than these, as for features, is LiveValve/E-Click's cause who doesn't love can-bus integrated suspension tuning?

Your inputs much appreciated because in the Bronco world since everything is still so new, the brands that enjoy limelight n eclectic repute are the ones shilled by middlemen and dealers on social media who talk highly only of the ones that give them the biggest commisions. Real workhorses and performer brands dont see that much demand. Which is good in a way … they stay affordable. Takes a technical guy to separate the tech from the BS and kick back at the bronco tax.

 

[autouniontech]

Your inputs much appreciated because in the Bronco world since everything is still so new, the brands that enjoy limelight n eclectic repute are the ones shilled by middlemen and dealers on social media who talk highly only of the ones that give them the biggest commisions. Real workhorses and performer brands dont see that much demand. Which is good in a way … they stay affordable. Takes a technical guy to separate the tech from the BS and kick back at the bronco tax.

Yeah, I tend to go in different directions than pop-culture with what I buy and do (perhaps to my eventual demise, who knows). I had a set of King 2.5's on my old Power Wagon and loved them, having the single adjuster did help make a difference on-road and off, especially with how much the weight balance can change on a big truck. I was going to pick up another set for the Bronco, but for ultimately a few hundred less, more features and better out of the box valving/spring rates I couldn't go wrong with the Dobinsons.

We'll see how they go when they get here!

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