Newbie to sled pulling

[BlackCloud3500]

I am really interested in turning my truck into a sled puller. I own a 1997 Dodge 3500 Cummins dually 4x4. I have pretty good direction when it comes to motor performance. But and any transmission or suspension help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys. Matt

 

[zstroken]

If your truck is worth more than $12000 sell it and go buy a beater truck, or especially a truck with high mileage. Rebuild the engine firering the head, heavy duty valve springs, performance cam, balance the rotating assembly, rebuild the tranny(goerend), put lockers in the front and rear, upgrade the driveshafts, and rear axles, send your pump to a pump shop, buy a set of good injectors, big turbo. This is pretty much a minimum for a 600HP setup. I went a bought a lower mileage 12V for a puller and have rebuilt the whole driveline and the engine would have been built up too if funds would have allowed it.

 

[IKNOWEVERYTHING]

Wise words Z ..... Or just go watch !!! it is expensive man!!

Don't destroy a good 97 truck if you really like your truck

IKE

 

[Kman9090]

Well given thats good advice it really isn't on the subject he asked. I pull my 2005 dodge and am not in any hurry to sell it. We are gonna turn people away with oponions like this. What kind of Tranny are you running in your 97? If you have a stick buy a dual disc. Add ladder bars to keep from breaking rear ends and drive shafts. If you have an auto some tranny upgrades will diffently be necesary but I don't have any knowledge on autos. I have 4 friends that all pull thier stock trucks besides chips and one has a dual disc with nothing broke so far and between the 5 of us we have about 20 hooks between us. Gauges are a must though if you don't have them but I'm sure you've got the little things done. You'll be fine unless you start hooking every weekend, thats when you start breaking stuff.

 

[zstroken]

It wasn't meant to turn him away. I guess when I read he was turning it into a puller, I meant like a dedicated puller. If your just hooking at some local fairs, you just need to do some stuff. What kind of HP, and class are you looking to pull in?