This week’s Throwback video features a gorgeous 1978 Ford F-150 that has been heavily modified with a Detroit Diesel 6v53 for pulling competitions and the result is pure awesomeness.
This video begins with a pair of quick walk around videos of this jacked up F-350, giving us a look at that stunning black and blue beast from all sides along with zooming into the passenger’s side front wheel well where we can see some of the plumbing for the high performance diesel engine.
This old school Super Duty looks great and sounds great, but after the walkaround portion of the video – we get to see this classic Ford truck in action.
With the help of the built Detroit Diesel engine, this 1978 Ford F-350 pulls the sled 242 in a hurry and unlike many other pulling trucks that are beat up, purpose built competitors – this F-350 looks like a truck that is very likely driven on the street with no problems.
Sure, that pro stock style hood scoop might be a bit much, but it only adds to the cool factor of this classic heavy duty Ford F-350.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
