Big Money Pullers

Delinquent

Delinquent

I'm Wrong...
Joined
May 15, 2009
Messages
882
We all know, It takes alot of money to pull in general, and even more to be competitive. But, there are some people taking it to the extreme. Is it bad on the sport when some competitors just throw tens of thousands into a 2.6 puller? Or Just write a check to "so and so" for 1000+horsepower? Are they killing the sport or making it better?


Please don't bash me, just looking for opinions.
 
I agree kinda takes the fun out of it. I personally would rather say I built it than say I payed to have it built and know nothing about it, just my 2 pennys
 
I built my own, and it still cost thousands lol. But I think that you have more appreciation for the truck when you bust your own damn nuckles doin the wrenching and figuring out the problems when they come up. Part of the whole deal if you ask me! Brian
 
What about the guy that spends 10 of thousands in parts and assembles it himself?
 
some people don't have the time or expertise to build their own pullers.
Hats off to the guys who do.
 
I enjoy the competition theres nothing like the feeling when u accomplish more with less by making a real good hook and end up beating the guys with high dollar trucks with a daily driver. A man can dump thousands into horsepower but if u cant set the truck up right it does no good
 
I don't know if your wanting a particular response. I am in the process of putting a new engine in my puller, and really the only thing I had put together was the bottom end and the big reason for that was transportation issues. The other day while it was sitting on the stand, I got to thinking about what would happen if the engine would self destruct and how much money I had in it. It was pretty depressing how much money was in just the engine. Now hopefully if it would let go, it wouldn't be a complete destruction and some of the parts would be able to be reused.

So if you think your gonna take $10k and build a top notch 2.8 truck, it probably won't happen. $10K probably won't get you a top notch 2.6 truck, unless you buy everything used. I mean when you figure you have $1500+ in a clutch, $1000+ in a turbo.

You have already blown 25% of the budget. Haven't even touched the studs or fuel system.
 
Delinquent said:
We all know, It takes alot of money to pull in general, and even more to be competitive. But, there are some people taking it to the extreme. Is it bad on the sport when some competitors just throw tens of thousands into a 2.6 puller? Or Just write a check to "so and so" for 1000+horsepower? Are they killing the sport or making it better?

Please don't bash me, just looking for opinions.
Click to expand...

I don't think it is bad for the sport. Every time someone goes bigger someone else can purchase their parts as an upgrade. Also pushing the limits advances the sport and makes everyone else try new things. Plus when a "low budget" truck beats one of the high $$$ trucks it hopefully shows people that it can be done without the big money.

I am not one for check writing. Probably because my account couldn't take it, but also because I like to see what we can put together to compete against the $$$ of the sport. But I do know where my limits are as far as fabrication and machine work. So I let the people who know do the work that I don't believe I can do well enough.

I personally buy a lot of used parts and use the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) method on builds. It is all for fun.
 
I agree but it is priceless when the budget built motor out performs the guy who spent three times as much for a turnkey motor and has no idea how to use it.
 
What do folks think a budget built engine for 2.8 costs? Or what have you spent? Include the fuel pump and turbo in the costs.
 
just for your knowledge, a reputable shop around me charges 15K to build a shortblock and it is basically the same wether it is 2.6,2.8 or 3.0.
 
I'm not building to compete in the midwest, but I plan to build my motor to be reliable as a 5k rpm 2.8 motor over the winter, and I wont be spending anywhere near 15k. i guess im on a real tight budget.
 
zstroken said:
What do folks think a budget built engine for 2.8 costs? Or what have you spent? Include the fuel pump and turbo in the costs.
Click to expand...

depends on 24v or 12v...

my next one will be a 12v for the cost factor alone.

I don't think a 15k shortblock would fit in the budget build category... :bang Maybe the entire truck :Cheer:
 
When most folks have $3000 in the pump, $1000+ in a turbo, $500-1000 in a cam, then throw in studs, bearings gasket etc, you could probably come up with a decent running engine for $5-7K. That doesn't include the driveline though to hold up to the new found power.
 
97crewcab said:
I don't think it is bad for the sport. Every time someone goes bigger someone else can purchase their parts as an upgrade. Also pushing the limits advances the sport and makes everyone else try new things. Plus when a "low budget" truck beats one of the high $$$ trucks it hopefully shows people that it can be done without the big money.

I am not one for check writing. Probably because my account couldn't take it, but also because I like to see what we can put together to compete against the $$$ of the sport. But I do know where my limits are as far as fabrication and machine work. So I let the people who know do the work that I don't believe I can do well enough.

I personally buy a lot of used parts and use the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) method on builds. It is all for fun.
Click to expand...


I agree. Look at the guys out there building extremely expensive tube frame mod trucks that have over $150k in them. A lot of those guys aren't just rich kids who had their parents buy them a rig. They had t get there somewhere. And a lot of it isn't just "buying" their truck. Most of them know a lot about them and have just had a ton of help from professional companies. Lets face it, you can't be the best frame builder, the best engine builder, and the best transmission builder all at once. Thats why a lot of guys go to this guy for this, and that guy for that to build a great machine.

I don't think this is hurting our sport. I think it is actually advancing it and pushing it forward. And it's not like guys are just blowing 50k on a 2.6 truck and winning all the time, this is a sport where you can't just be a "driver".
 
It is what it is. Just think... We are atleast 10 years behind tractor technology. Imagine what budget tractor guys thought when the first billet head came out, or when componets tractors were allowed. It's just the progress of things.

99% of us should be thankful there is no mass consumer market for pulling (think NASCAR)... Money is what drives the sport. And since most pulling teams the driver/owner/sponser is the same person that keeps the spending in check. Imagine if big corporations i.e. Wal-mart, m&m mars, UPS, Sears were throwing millions of dollars of sponsor money a year at pulling teams...
 
Horns said:
this is a sport where you can't just be a "driver".
Click to expand...

with a big enough check book it can be done (for a while anyway). I've seen it first hand with a guy that pulls around my area. I don't think it's right, but it all comes around.

There is no better feeling that building it yourself and beating the guy that just dropped another 10k from the week before at a shop. :kick:
 
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