Anyone who has ever seen a CORR race understands the demands that are put on the vehicles by the rugged tracks. When Bully Dog decided to build a pace truck for the CORR series they were faced with the challenge of building a truck that is capable of handling the tracks while at the same time being comfortable and legal for the street. Starting with a 2008 Nissan Titan Pro-4X Mike Deford and a team of technicians set about preparing the truck for the CORR season opener in Pomona.
Although the Titan Pro-4X comes with upgraded suspension over the base model it is still no match for a CORR racetrack. The Titan needed a long travel suspension system to handle rough terrain. Mike decided to go with PRG as they are experts in suspension systems on Nissan trucks. They installed their mid-travel kit; it increases track width by three inches on each side while providing 14-inches of wheel travel. Included as part of the system are tubular adjustable upper control arms, boxed chromoly lower control arms, extended axle shafts, Sway-A-Way coil-over remote reservoir shocks, Eibach springs, and Sway-A-Way 2” air bump stops. On the rear the suspension travel was increased to 11-inches with PRG / Deaver spring packs, Sway-A-Way piggyback remote reservoir shocks, and PRG traction bars. The chassis was strengthened using a tubular shock hoop that runs through the engine bay tying the front shocks towers together.
With the suspension lift in place the truck was in need of an upgraded wheel and tire combination. Eighteen inch KMC Enduro wheels were powder-coated to match the bumpers and wrapped in 35-inch Pro Comp Extreme AT tires. The lift and fenders will allow for a 37-inch tire and Mike plans on going with a larger tire in the future.
With the added width and travel from the PRG suspension and larger tires the tires could hit the fenders at full travel.
Glassworks Unlimited front fiberglass fenders and bedsides allow for maximum wheel travel without any impact with bodywork. The truck was originally black so Prestige Auto Body in Pocatello Idaho repainted the truck using a custom paint scheme of silver and red. The majority of the graphics on the truck are painted and not vinyl giving the truck a really nice touch.
Protection from rocks and other obstacles is essential on a truck like this so CBI Off Road built a custom front bumper that is more than capable of handling off road duties. A large aluminum skid plate and houses two large Light Force lights are also incorporated into the front bumper. CBI Off Road also built a rear bumper that is integrated into the roof rack. It holds the spare tire while still maintaining good storage space in the bed. The roof rack is capable of holding 250 lbs of gear and houses another four Light Force lights. Both bumpers were powder-coated bronze to match the wheels.
One of the main reasons Bully Dog picked the Titan was to promote its growing line of products for it and other gas trucks. A Bully Dog Power Pup electronic downloader adds 23 hp and 49 ft-lbs. Bully Dog’s PMT on board computer is not yet available for the Titan but this truck features an R&D prototype unit. The PMT is a very trick device that allows the driver to display a number of engine parameters as well as adjust power levels on the fly. The stock exhaust was changed to a 3” mandrel bent system. The stock airbox was modified to house a cotton gauze filter with a heatshield that seals against the hood so cool air enters the intake.
As well as being used for a CORR pace truck this Titan will also be used for support missions in desert races. A GPS system and communication system was essential. PCI Race Radio provided a Lowerance Baja 540 GPS and an Icom race radio. A Sirius satellite radio was also installed for entertainment during long drives from Bully Dog’s headquarters in Idaho to Southern California for races.
This truck was built for the specific function of providing support to off road racing and the team at Bully Dog have done a great job building a truck that is practical for these functions. Unlike many lifted trucks you see on the road these days that are built purely for looks, all the modifications on this truck were done to make it work better for its specific purpose and that is just the way we like it.
Sources:
www.bullydog.com
www.prgproducts.com
www.kmcwheels.com
www.procomptires.com
www.pciraceradios.com
www.prestigeautobodyinc.com
www.cbioffroadfab.com
www.lightforceusa.com
 |
 |
| The front suspension features PRG arms along with Sway-A-Way coilover and air bumps to provide 14 inches of usable travel. | In the rear PRG/Deaver springs are utilized along with another set of Sway-A-Way shocks to allow for 11 inches of cycle. |
 |
 |
| CBI Off Road built the front bumper to protect the nose of the Titan along house two Light Force lights. | CBI also worked their magic out back creating a rear bumper with an integrated tire carrier. |
 |
While the Bully Dog cold air intake is highly visible, the engine also gets more power through the use of Bully Dog's Power Pup electronic downloader. A front strut bar add strength to the coil towers. |
Your Privacy Choices