the short version is i am thinking about building a pulling truck and need to know where to start?


okay now the long version and i apologize now. so i want to build a pulling truck and need to know where to start. right now i just have my truck in the sig and want to pull it but am not going to because i use it almost everyday to pull the gooseneck and cant afford to break it sled pulling.

i was thinking of buying a truck to use as a farm truck but mainly for pulling. i was thinkng that something like a 12v engine would be a good start. am i right in thinking something like a 1996 ex cab short bed dullie 4x4 would be a good vehicle? or what would be an ideal starting platform? im not planning on going crazy but just around 600hp or so...

would i be better off paying more for an original platform that that runs good and has a good body? or find something that is maby dinged up a bit or a blown engine and just have it built the way i wanted?

also what should i expect to pay to get to the point i want to be including buying a truck and building it up?

all advice comments thoughts appreeciated... let the posts roll

 

The truck you have would make an excellent puller.

 

12 valve manual trans 4.10 gears would be a good budget starting point.

 

Cheaper to build the motor then it is to do bodywork and build a motor. Unless you are going crazy and want a 3.0 truck and 1000hp then a vp truck pulls good with the right combination of parts.

 

What he says.

 

so your saying it would be a better idea if i bought a good shape and good running truck and just at turbo injectors pump etc.. ?? and if so what would you suggest as a good starting platform? srw drw? reg cab, ex, longbed, shortbed? engine?

 

I said it would be cheaper to find a good platform good body and frame that doesn't have to be messed with. If it has a blown motor then you could go through it and do what you wanted to it but if it doesn't oh well. Friend has little over 6000 into his vp truck and he has been doing pretty good this year but he is at that vp's limit so he is going 12valve next year. Single rear wheel long bed is the key extended cab.

 

sorry about the repete. thanks for all the info. i am new to any of this 21v stuff so im just learning.

should i be weary about builting up an engine that already has 1xx,xxx+ miles on? my cash flow is not unlimited and whatever i do i want to hold up for the most part.

 

anyone??....

 

1xx,xxx is just breaking in for these engines.

 

what about 15x,xxx or 2xx,xxx ?

 

I have seen well maintained engines with 300,000 that stil look new inside

 

pretty paint doesnt win pulls.

buy smething older, spend less on initial costs, put the big money in the right parts.

find a 12v 5spd with 4.10 gears and a 241DHD transfer case.
big input and SBC dual disk clutch
traction bars
get a good 2.5" sized turbo
tweak your pump with a plate, rack plug, DV's, add some DDP3 injectors
have the head o-ringed and new valve springs, add studs

thats the jist of it. spend less on the truck, more on big power goodies.