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OffRoad Trucks

From Factory to Fierce: Must-See Upgrades at the 2025 Bronco Stampede

If your Bronco is still stock, it’s time for an upgrade. At the 2025 Great Smoky Mountain Bronco® Stampede in Pigeon Forge, the LeConte Center was transformed into a playground for anyone who refuses to settle for factory specs. First-gen classics mingled with lifted Sasquatch Editions, chopped customs, and wild builds that looked like they might break a few laws—on purpose. Every aisle was stacked with vendors showing off suspension systems, armor, lighting, audio, and off-road gear—everything needed to turn a perfectly nice stock Bronco into a beast that dominates the trail and turns heads everywhere it rolls.

Broncos Storm Pigeon Forge

The 3rd Annual Great Smoky Mountain Bronco® Stampede thundered into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on August 15–16, 2025, and for two days straight the LeConte Center was wall-to-wall Broncos. Old, new, stock, modified, lifted—if it had a Bronco badge, it had a place in the herd.

628HP LS7X BUILD

Some of the greatest feelings in life come with a rise in rpm, a dropped clutch and tests of traction stretching the boundaries of our physiology. These are the emotions many of us cherish, and while many factors can evoke such emotions, the single most influential force behind these kinetic kicks is torque (which is then equated into horsepower).

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Dieselsite Deep Transmission Pan and Filter

At The Auto Builder, we’re always on the lookout for products made by real enthusiasts—folks who don’t just sell parts, they live them. That’s why we like the team at DIESELSITE. They don’t just talk the talk—they walk the walk. These guys live and breathe diesel, and they know firsthand the problems truck owners face. They take a hard look at factory OEM designs and make them better. Period.

SUPERCHARGING FOR BIG POWER

Building an engine that produces more horsepower than its stock configuration can be done in many ways. However, supercharging has proven to be one of the best ways to make the most horsepower over stock. Superchargers are air pumps that force a “super” charge of air into an engine, which in turn allows the engine to make more power. A Roots supercharger or blower is a sealed case with two rotors inside. It is driven through the crankshaft by belts and pulleys, causing the spinning rotors to force compressed air into an engine.

AMERICAN RACING TORQ-THRUST

Undoubtedly, the most significant and influential hot rod component in recent history is the American Racing five-spoke Torq-Thrust wheel. It has been the most-copied wheel ever, as American Racing continues to fight off design infringements. In its many legitimate variations, it has—in many ways—influenced the whole of the aftermarket automotive car culture. No single wheel has ever made such a significant impact on the customizing scene as the Torq-Thrust has.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 1994-2007 Ford PSD DIESELSITE 40-Row Transmission Cooler

When you’re pushing the limits of your 7.3L or 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel—whether you’re running big power or hauling heavy—you’re playing a high-stakes game with your transmission. Heat is your enemy, and stock transmission coolers simply weren’t designed for the kind of loads serious truck owners demand. That’s where DIESELSITE steps in with a battle-ready solution: the 40-Row Transmission Cooler.

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