Me and a friend are finally in the position to Build a pulling Truck! We have been looking for a good 12 valve 97 or 98 but are unsure what to get as far as wheel base. Is longer better? Also isnt a 5speed better than an Auto? Hope you guys can shed some light from your experience on exactly what we should be looking for and what other things we will need for this truck.

I'm guessing we should start in the stock class and build up from there as we gain experience. So what are the specs to run stock? What modifications can you do and still stay in this class. Are there any "cheater" turbo's available for this class?

Thanks in advance for your ideas!

Josh

 

good thing about a single cab long bed is it's a one piece driveshaft. Auto's are great if you can afford the BEAST. 5 speed is great to with a monster clutch. make sure and get the 215 p-pump motor. good luck

 

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longer is better, don't worry about driveshafts. If you do it right you will replace all the stock shafts anyways with bigger ones and bigger u-joints.

Auto seems to work better at the track if you spend the money...

You will want a Dana 80 in the rear (not the 70).

 

I found a good deal on a salvage 24v QC shortbed 5speed. Should I pass on it because its a 24v? It does have the Dana 80 rear. I want to manage the $ wisely and get the best bang for my buck on this project!

 

How serious of a puller are you wanting to build... Will you travel out of the state to compete? Or just going to compete locally?

Are you going to want to drive this truck on the street at all?

I'd assume you want to pull locally and have a good time. 24V is fine. 450 to 500 hp no electronics. 600 to 650 hp with boxes on. Still driveable on the street. I think truck setup, susp, tires, hitch, lockers, weight placement, etc are more important than all out power.

 

We will start locally and go from there. I dont want to be replacing the VP44... thats money that could be well spent in other areas. Im sure we'll be spending more time getting our set-up right then adding mods but I want a good foundation. We both own 24v trucks so we know them well enough to keep it running. It will not be driven on the road!

 

From being around some puller and watching them run them it looks to me like all it takes is: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Yeah I get that too but this is just going to start as a hobby for us! As the saying goes "two heads are better than one" I'm hoping "two wallets are better than one"!

.

 

I have seen afew 24 valves run with the best, chip, injectors, clutch go pullin!

 

It looks like attention to detail in tuning and suspension setup is worth alot. The rear suspension and stiffness of the frame working with the ladder bars will do alot. Don't be chensy on alot of stuff or you will spent more in the long run.

 

If you can get the 24v bought right you could run it with the VP44 a year and then swap it over to a P pump after you get a year of experience under your belt. Around here it takes 600+ rwhp to be competitive and that's pretty much top end for a VP truck without drugs. An auto is going to cost more to build but it seems like most of the time they have an advantage or maybe they are more consistant would be a better way to put it.

 

Looks like a stiff rear is important. Can you add leaf springs and modify the rear end in the Stock Class? What are the Turbo tricks of this class? Thanks for your help guys!

 

First off what class are you going to run? Are you wanting to squeeze every drop of power out of you VP-44 or are you going to keep it fairily mild?

 

Beginner/Stock start at the bottom and go up from there!

 

If you are not planning on changing the turbo... Here is where i would go.

Gauges!
FMS Bluechip box
100 HP injectors
Traction Bars and helper springs for the rear
Clutch (Haisley Street Puller would be a perfect fit)



With that combo you will not be at the top by far but it is a good start and that box is very beginner friendly and you will not grow out of it for a long time. With this combo and a stock turbo you will be pushing it EGT wise but hey its sledpulling...