Hows it going. I am wanting to get a pulling truck project going. I was just wondering what you guys who have experience would recommend me doing. Ive got about 10,000 to spend after i buy a truck. Would you go with 12 valve or 24 and with stick or auto. Also would u recommend putting a 12 valve engine in a 3rd gen. quad cab short bed truck,and how hard would that be. What other mods besides guages, ladder bars, and tires would you recommend.

 

if it would be a stricktly pulling truck I would say 12 valve. If you want to drive it everyday I would have to go with something electronic so you can bomb it when you need to and have ecent manners when you don't.
I strongly recomend ladder bars first. Manual transmisions do a great job if you don't hop. The front axle is a weak link go with larger axles and some sort of locker. 4.10 ratio no larger than 33" tires.
If you had a 12valve manual trans truck you could get a good pulling truck for the budget you have in mind.

 

thanks for the advice. How hard do you think it would be to get the 12valve to fit into the 2004 truck. Also what all would u recommend doing to the 12 valve engine to get it up to par from the stocker. i would like to make around 5-600 hp if not more.

And also if i through a 24 valve in it what all would you recommend for that. i no proobably a stage III cp3 and a lift pump, guages, ladder bars. What kind of turbo, programmers,etc. Id like to pump 5 inch exhaust to dual 7inch stacks on it but that can come in time. im mainly lookin for performance upgrades right now to get the most power. thanks

 

what class are you looking to pull in? There is so many diffrent combinations you can run for all the diffrent generation motors.

 

im really not sure. i dunno all the classes they have out there. i mean i dont want anything too crazy. i would still like some street drivability just to pull a skidloader or decent size trailer into town, but id like to just do local pulls. What classes would you recommend. thanks for all the help guys

 

with that being said you should look into the street stock class. There is a lot of things that you could do. but what you have to decide is do you want the 12v p-pump motor or do you want to go with the 24v vp44 motor or common rail motor when you decide that i can give you a whole slew of stuff that you could use. For still being able to drive on the street i would go with the 24v vp44 truck thats my opion and i can give you a whole list of things to do. Let me know if you want a list.

 

common rail gets you themost power they are cleaning house around here

 

ok well ive found a rolling chassis that just needs an engine. id like to go with the cheapest engine i can find and then just build it up. im not really sure which would be the best for pulling but the truck im looking at is an 04 crew cab short bed. i didnt no how hard it would be to get a 12 valve to fit into it. so if its easier id probably go with a 24 valve. im just lookin for opinions on what would be the easiest and best way to mod something out. i would definately like the list that you would suggest incase i decide to put that motor in. I appreciate all the help

 

np i will pm it to ya

 

ok awesome thanks alot man. also the rolling chassis i am lookin at is an automatic. Which is better for pulling a manual or an automatic with an aftermarket tranny. and how hard is it to convert a auto to a manual

 

Well if all you have is 10,000 then you will put half of that into that tranny to get it to take the abuse of sled pulling. Buying the truck and everything I think you might be a little short on cash. Also I would shoot for the 2.6 class since it takes between 600-700hp to compete in that class but I do fine and I am right at 600. A p pump truck also takes alot of tuning to get it figured out so it's better to have someone help you that knows the motors. If you really want to build a good 12 valve motor give a call to a local shop that won't do you wrong and tell them what you want and what you are gearing for and they can help you out a little bit better. The best thing to do is to go with a motor with the same performance pasrts shop so all will be covered. Also since when are front axles weak links, expecially in a 3rd gen truck. Only weak axle for sledpulling is the Dana 70 they will break easily.

 

I have seen a plenty of front axle shafts break. They either break at the turned down spot by the carrier or snap the ears off at the yokes.
I guess it depends alot on the track makeup. The tracks I go to are kinda sticky clay too much hop and boom. Dmax's don't do well at all here probably for that same reason they constantly break front end parts.

 

for pullin only forget the short box and get a 4door londbox, more wheelbase is better.

 

better have somthing that has a ton of power. the trucks that win arent 400hp they have alot more than that. Im not sure why you would want to put a 12V in a 3rd gen unless the truck doesnt have an engine in it now. the common rail or 12V would be competitive I would choose those over the VP engine personally.

 

ya the 3rd gen im lookin at doesnt come with an engine or a tranny so thats why i was wondering what you guys would suggest