Best Body/Chassis to start a Puller???

Bosshawg600

Bosshawg600

PDP.com FireFighter
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Well, Im looking at building a puller from the ground up. I know Im going to be running a 12v in what ever i get. But im trying to decide on what body/Chassis to start with.

Im REALY leaning tword a w350 1st gen to start out with, but for some reason everyone thinks their beat up rusted farm trucks are worth a fortune!!!!

So Im kinda puting in a backup plan if I cant find a 1st gen. but i dont know what would be a good, easy chassis to work with. First off, I WILL NOT be using a 2nd gen body style. Not that i dont like it, just EVERYONE at any pull I go to is using a 2nd gen body......Im wanting something a bit different!

Keep in mind, Im not making a 3.0 truck, just something in the 600hp range to go out and hit up some brush pulls and have some fun with!

I was thinking a good second choice would be a OBS ford. Any 89-91 or even a 92-96 F350's are super easy to find and are VERY cheap!!!! But the only thing I am worried about is the TTB fronts/Leaf spring front ends (if a D60 is up front)

I dont even think I want to touch an older model Chevy (90's) because I realy dont like the look of them....kinda ugly! And Im wanting either an EXT Cab truck or a 4 door just for more interior room for things added in the future. The 70's and 80's Chevys didnt come as an EXT cab.

So, to the origional question......What would be a good chassis/Body to build a Puller only out of????
 
try to find a 4 door 80's 1st gen gasser, you are gonna build it from the ground up anyway so the driveline will get replaced.

its different, and it has a long wheel base.
 
The only draw back on the older Dodge & GM (and maybe ford but i know nothing bout them) trucks are weaker frames than newer era trucks. Will it really matter? I can't say.

Sounds to me you've already got your mind made up. ;) 1) 1st gen Dodge 2) OBS Ford


I'd be more inclined to do the 1st gen dodge over the ford because they seem more rare & I like the square body GM & dodge trucks. Hence why Im building a square body GM pull truck myself. ;)
 
the first gen frames suck big time - flexing really badly in our experience

We built a 91 ford - with a 96 front clip cuz I like the newer grille

All 87-96 F350s have the strongest dana 60, being the high pinion style

The 10.25 rear axle is almost as strong as a dana 80

What I really like about the Ford is that in full dress including all interior and sound deadening it only weighs in at about 5650 lbs with a 230 lb driver n full load of fuel.

This allows for a lot of added weight in all of the right places if your rules allow for such
 
In my opinion neither the Sterling 10.25 or 10.5 is worth even thinking about. With a moderately built PSD, I broke 4 axles and a R+P in the .25. First time out with an S400 on my cummins I broke the .5. What ever you get put an 80 or maybe a 14 bolt cause they're dirt cheap.
 
For Fords, get a 350, no TTB to worry about.

Find a 91-93 Dodge gasser 350. The gasser 1 tons had the 9" frame rail that the 250 and 350 diesels had.
 
stay far away from the sterling axles,I busted r&p,axles ,spiders and the carrier with a measly 425 hp,mite last awhile with a auto but not in a stick.
2nd gen dodge chassies seem to work the best,from what i have seen, fords are a pickle to set up right,stiff frame and leaf springs.
 
Well, I went to the local Junk Yard today just to look around. About the only thing i found was an 84 D250 (I think) 4 door short bed gasser. It was auctually VERY clean and 100% RUST FREE!!! Not sure if its what Im going for, but i thought it was pretty sweet!

I also have been looking at a 92 W250 Ext Cab up in MI. It comes with a V Plow that Im sure i can off load quickly and use the money for parts. It aint the cleanest looking thing, but the rust isnt too bad. I havent haggled on the price too much, but the guy was wanting 1200 for the W250, an 89 Ram charger and a wrecked D150. So Im guessing if I just take the W250 I can get it pretty cheap and seel off the stuff i dont need to pay of the initial price of the truck!

Now i already know Im going to completly gut the interior. No Dash, Carpet, only a Drivers seat and a steering wheel!

About the only other person around us pulling a 1st gen is Mark Burress, and well, that kinda my insperation for the build! Hes got one NASTY truck that runs good! Plus its always unique when he comes to a pull! Breaks up all the 2nd gen dodges and Duramax's pulling!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PTb470gbeY

Plus there is nothing cooler than some old iron out there whipping up on all the modern stuff!!!
 
I always thought the late 60 early 70 crew cab ford would be a good one but probably hard to find.
 
Bosshawg600 said:
Well, Im looking at building a puller from the ground up. I know Im going to be running a 12v in what ever i get. But im trying to decide on what body/Chassis to start with.

Im REALY leaning tword a w350 1st gen to start out with, but for some reason everyone thinks their beat up rusted farm trucks are worth a fortune!!!!

So Im kinda puting in a backup plan if I cant find a 1st gen. but i dont know what would be a good, easy chassis to work with. First off, I WILL NOT be using a 2nd gen body style. Not that i dont like it, just EVERYONE at any pull I go to is using a 2nd gen body......Im wanting something a bit different!

Keep in mind, Im not making a 3.0 truck, just something in the 600hp range to go out and hit up some brush pulls and have some fun with!

I was thinking a good second choice would be a OBS ford. Any 89-91 or even a 92-96 F350's are super easy to find and are VERY cheap!!!! But the only thing I am worried about is the TTB fronts/Leaf spring front ends (if a D60 is up front)

I dont even think I want to touch an older model Chevy (90's) because I realy dont like the look of them....kinda ugly! And Im wanting either an EXT Cab truck or a 4 door just for more interior room for things added in the future. The 70's and 80's Chevys didnt come as an EXT cab.

So, to the origional question......What would be a good chassis/Body to build a Puller only out of????
Click to expand...

thats funny faker... i could have sworn i told you that exact thing 2-3 weeks ago when you said you wanted a 1st gen and you swore up and down you could get em cheap..... hmm..
 
Heres a good running 1st gen dodge...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf9zd2yEsUM&feature=related

I love the look of this old ford, I'm pretty sure its a 80's truck with a 97 cab if I remember right.
pulling_truck.png
 
jackblack99 said:
thats funny faker... i could have sworn i told you that exact thing 2-3 weeks ago when you said you wanted a 1st gen and you swore up and down you could get em cheap..... hmm..
Click to expand...

Well, there is a big defference between a running 1st gen (which are going for a fortune) and a running gasser. Looks like Ill be going for the gasser. although I have found a few 1ste gens with a CTD for decent prices, but to convert one to a P-pump and NV4500....Its gonna be cheaper in the long run to get a gasser!

RSieck said:
Heres a good running 1st gen dodge...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf9zd2yEsUM&feature=related

I love the look of this old ford, I'm pretty sure its a 80's truck with a 97 cab if I remember right.
Click to expand...


It does look like a 97 cab. Im suprized it matches up that well!!! I would do a 86ish Ford, always liked the looks of those! Had a good friend with one in HS and it was CLEAN!!!

Hmm, now ya got me thinking!!!
 
I know where a 78 is! decently cheap could part it and make double ot tripple what i charge you for it
 
Joe, Ive auctualy thought about your Ford you got sitting out back! Wonder how hard it would be to throw on stock suspension back on to lower it down.......
 
Jeff, if you find a candidate in St Louis I could possibly look at it for ya...
 
its only a 3 inch in front and block in rear, id just sale it it and swap it to leafs as its coils now
 
Who knows, I might end up with an 80's K series or an OBS Ford. Went looking around online last night......those 2 types are cheap and easy to find!! Plus ive seen a lot of 4 door DRW of both types, which would be petty cool.

Only thing I would be worried about with a 4 door DRW would be weight. I would assume that a stripped out Crew Cab DRW would be somewere in the neighbor hood of 7,000#. I guess as long as I can hang 800 or so LBS I should be fine.



Im thinking to try and stay in the 80's just because if its got surface rust, patch pannels and entie fenders, rockers, bedsides are pretty darn cheap! Plus it would be a lot easier just to replace it, than spend hours trying to get pannels straight and prep them for paint!!!!
 
80s gm cc drw won't weigh that much gutted. Mine is an 83 cc sb that ran in 5800-6500 lb classes and could always hang weight out front. As much as a 800-1000+ in the heavy classes. That was with a sbc in it. I can't imaine 14" more frame, two wheels & a cummins would increase you 1700-2000 lbs over what mine weighed in pulling setup.

I'm thinking mine will be in the 6500-6700 range setup with the dmax & no weights hanging. I'm putting an interior (seats & carpet) back in it too.

These trucks are a fair amount lighter than newer trucks. ;)
 
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