Might be way out in left field

Blackdog

Blackdog

Hillbilly Deluxe
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
801
Ok guys don't beat me up too bad but I have been super antique tractor pulling for a few years now and have pulled my dodge a few times and I am going more toward truck pulling now but since buying my wife an infiniti I took over our 2000 excursion and now that it is paid off I am going to destroke it and go common rail but I REALLY want to make it a puller. I know it will take alot of work that I have already done on the dodge but I haven't seen anyone pull with an ex and I kind of like to be different.
I probably will never get as big into pulling as most of you guys because the Air Force and I am always going where my plane goes in and out of country but I sure would like to becsause tractor and truck pulling is my second wife.
Ok, Kick me in the nuts if it is a stupid idea.

BTW, You guys are awesome and a great source of knowledge for building trucks up and at a do it yourself point that I know that when I build up my trucks I know they won't break..............much.
 
the only thing that will make it different than a pickup is the weight...you will have to strip the interior down and shed all weight you can to meet an 8k weight class.

other than that its still gonna need traction bars, suspension stops, hitch as high as legal, etc.
 
Yeah I know I will have to start over and build all the essential pulling parts but with the ex full of fuel it weighs in at 8,100. I'm sure I can shed enough pounds to put 500 or so out front. How do the ford axles hold up?
 
Fly a plane for a living and still need to find a thrill such as truck pulling thats cool. Sounds like it would be a good idea just making weight is gonna be your hardest part. How much do them things weigh?
 
all you need is a drivers seat, no carpet, nothing....that will get her a little lighter.....
 
Blackdog said:
Yeah I know I will have to start over and build all the essential pulling parts but with the ex full of fuel it weighs in at 8,100. I'm sure I can shed enough pounds to put 500 or so out front. How do the ford axles hold up?
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The stuff you rip out is going to be replaced by heavy crap like pulling hitch, reinforced receiver, driveshaft loops, traction bars, etc. Plus you're installing a motor which is likely heavier than the PSD. Getting 500 out front is going to be tough to impossible, and with the Reg cab guys hanging more like 1500, you're at a serious disadvantage.

Too much weight too far back is going to be the problem. Don't do it IMHO. The Ford driveline & frame is questionable as-is.

Dodge & GM are going to be half the price, and stronger. Sell the Ex and start with a better platform.
 
I say just start pulling the plane.... seems like that would be the best option :D
 
Sorry guys but I'm not a pilot but a Crew Chief on KC-135 Tankers in the Air Force. But we do alot more than just aerial refueling but when we go out on trips I go with my plane.

Now my ex weighs 8,100lbs. with a full tank of fuel. Tank size is 44 gallons so cut that down to 1/4 tank and that will save some weight and take out the spare tire and the back two rows of seats and I will lighten up quite a bit. I'm sure with the adding and subtracting of parts the weight will be low enough to hang some out front. As for getting rid of it, I really don't need to because I got a dodge mostly setup for pulling and have pulled it already. The ex is the family truck. I guess if I do decide to turn it into a parttime puller and the weight still isn't where it should be than I will have a cr ex setup for pulling.
 
8100 with a powerstroke in it, Cummins weighs what about 150-200 pounds more then that? You are gonna be at a disadvantage and might be better off just finding a truck that is all ready built for pulling and go that route and save some headaches and money. But if you really want to go the excursion route your gonna be looking at big money and your all ready gonna be at a disadvantage with the weight thing but hey if you want to be different go ahead it would look cool even if you didn't win.
 
Why don't you just use the dodge as a puller. Excursion could then be the tow vehicle. By all means, still put a CR in the ex. You could probably get the dodge low enough on weight to hang a couple hundred pounds on the front.
 
it sounds like he wants it just for fun. which is what most people forget. there is only 1 winner and the others are losers, but had fun trying i say GO for it!
 
Duster 5.9 said:
it sounds like he wants it just for fun. which is what most people forget. there is only 1 winner and the others are losers, but had fun trying i say GO for it!
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I was thinking the same thing as I read it. I don't see it being the winning truck, but I bet you could get it to pass tech and have fun. May not be able to have hanging weights though...
 
Duster 5.9 said:
it sounds like he wants it just for fun. which is what most people forget. there is only 1 winner and the others are losers, but had fun trying i say GO for it!
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Duster, You nailed it. If I was in it for money I would have never had a reason to get into pulling in the first place. Granted the Air Force doesn't pay much but I can say I never got worse than a third place tractor pulling but down here in Georgia all you get is a trophy or a good job. No prize money in it. Same if I placed pulling my Dodge. Plus even with prize money it never makes up for what you spent along the way. Like I said in the first post that pulling is my second wife. I'm just in it for fun. Maybe when we move to North Carolina this summer we can attend some pulls that do offer up cash for placing but it isn't that important to me. Pulling and having a good time with the fellow guys and gals means more to me.
 
I say do it. You'll have fun. And if you can't get the weight low enough, you'll have one heck of a cool DD.

Gonna go with a manual or auto?
 
I'll keep it an auto but not sure if I keep the same one or go allison or 48re? I guess I will go ahead and finish the Dodge first with the rest of the pulling parts and bigger turbo or turbo's and do the ex for pulling to but also daily driveable. I want to come to some of the pulls where most of you guys go when I get to NC and just have a good time.
 
I've always thought an EX with a Cummins and a 6 speed would be awesome. I just like sticks...
 
What year is the Ex? I think 01 or 02 was the first year they put a Dana 60 in front. If you are like me, (mine's a 2000), then you need to swap the front axle. Also, the sterling rear won't hold either. You need to find a Dana 80 out of a Ford dually. Add traction bars and you are good to go.

You will definately be at a weight disadvantage if you can make weight. I've never weighed mine, I'll put that on my to do list.

I think it would be cool as well, my wife is still trying to get me to let her pull ours. I just don't think I could accept it if she beat me:hehe:
 
GOT-Torque said:
What year is the Ex? I think 01 or 02 was the first year they put a Dana 60 in front. If you are like me, (mine's a 2000), then you need to swap the front axle. Also, the sterling rear won't hold either. You need to find a Dana 80 out of a Ford dually. Add traction bars and you are good to go.

You will definately be at a weight disadvantage if you can make weight. I've never weighed mine, I'll put that on my to do list.

I think it would be cool as well, my wife is still trying to get me to let her pull ours. I just don't think I could accept it if she beat me:hehe:
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Mine is a 2000 also. Figured my axles might need to be changed I will break the stockers first. Also when you did your swap did you put the 48re in at the same time or did you try it with the 4r100 first? I'm sure I can make weight with some to spare. Also I think I am going to make it into a dually since there is a company who makes dually fenders for it plus I haven't seen one yet with duals.
 
If you did put a 6spd in it you would loose that much more weight. It would be WAY cheaper and you could run a bigger single turbo. Just my thoughts.
 
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