Highboy truck pull
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Clearfield County, PA
Highboy truck pull
Just interested to see if any of you guys ever ran your near stock highboy or even F150 in a truck pull. I always love going to them and feel very tempted to pull mine this summer but i figure theres way to much to go wrong. How well do you think these trucks would hold up?
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
I used to pull mine and it was stout as a tank. Only thing i broke was the radiator exploded on me. However if your going to pull you need to add a bunch of weight in the front cause its going to hop on you. & The half tons are going to bounce twice as bad because of the coils
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
First thing to happen is throw the driveshafts out because a worn out u-joint will break. Everything on these trucks hold up fairly well during pulling unless you let it bounce alot. Alot of my friends pull old Fords.
Zombie Survivalist
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,809
Likes: 3
From: Rock Springs, WY, USA
went to a truck pull back in september, and all the trucks that were worth a crap were old dentsides, from nearly stock up to some seriously modded 460s that i would guess the displacement was a lot closer to 600. as stated, the only real weak point should be the u-joints. and you might want to careful not to slip the clutch to much if youre in a manual. my buddy toasted his clutch one time, made on heck of a pull in the stock class, and had to put a new clutch in it the next day. lol.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,378
Likes: 3
From: nebraska
Alot off people pull these old Fords. I believe the 73-79 Fords are the most popular trucks out there in truck pulls by far. Yeh traction bars an a weight bracket would hep you out a bunch.I think the secret to pulling is not bouncing an getting a quick start off the line. Those 460s are excellent pulling motors stock an bored out. Low end torque is outstanding. Here in Nebraska Im fotunate enough to know quite a few pullers that pull these old trucks stock an modified. Id say give it a try an see how you do. Its always a learning experience when pulling. You strive to inmprove for the nexttime.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
My brother used to pull with his 79 bronco just for fun. Did well but broke alot of u-joints. He likes to 'rebuild' them from old ones lol.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Clearfield County, PA
Yea i may give it a try. Ive never pulled before and something i would worry about is blowing the clutch out and some axle wrap/ bouncing quite a bit. Is there any sort of alternative/quick solution to adding weight up front other than fabbing up a plate to hold weights? sometime in the future i plan to build a pulling truck but i just was interested in knowing how well the stock ones do. Also what gear would you pull in? 2, 4low?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,378
Likes: 3
From: nebraska
Either along as it says Powered by Ford its going to be good. Got to show the Chevy boys whos boss. Yeh if your clutch is weak you will probably loose it in the pull. Weight bracket is the best way to go for weight. There are several threads on here about pulling. Use toe search to locate them. Check out Nebraska power pullers.com there a bunch off seventies Fords on there modified off course but very competitive. Id say 4low in first gear. like i said every pull is a learning experience, Good Luck buddy. Welcome Hillbilly I like that name.
Zombie Survivalist
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,809
Likes: 3
From: Rock Springs, WY, USA
depends on your rear gear. if it was me, with the 4.10s in my 91, i would go 4 low in second or third. you have to remember that you want pull hard, and you dont want excessive wheel spin, but at the same time, you want enough speed on the top end to keep things movin longer.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Yea i may give it a try. Ive never pulled before and something i would worry about is blowing the clutch out and some axle wrap/ bouncing quite a bit. Is there any sort of alternative/quick solution to adding weight up front other than fabbing up a plate to hold weights? sometime in the future i plan to build a pulling truck but i just was interested in knowing how well the stock ones do. Also what gear would you pull in? 2, 4low?
If your gonna pull in the stock class and alot of times a couple of the classes above most places wont let you have any weight such as a weight bar extending past the bumper. The way i done this was put everything i could find under the hood I used plow blades cut and stacked and tractor weights( i added nearly 1000 lbs.but it has to be secure by either bolting down with threaded rod or ratchet straps or something. Most pulls wont let you put weight in the cab but they usually dont look so throw you a few tractor weights under the floor mat
. Ive seen some people load the bed of the truck down, DONT do this youve got all of the weight you want and then some already on the back.
New User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I've never done a truck pull with my 71 250 BUT I have done a "truck pull". I pulled a Chevy with no power up a 75 degree, never driven on 300 yard hill/ mountain, after he fell off the mountain by getting to close to the edge. FORD TOUGH! If someone asked me how I got my truck on Mt Rushmore, I'd have to tell them I drove it up George's nose.
Peace
Maxx
Peace
Maxx
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 349
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
old fords are the way to go with pulling trucks, in my opinion, in 1979, that was the last year for any real truck to be built... due to Twin i beam suspension and "lighter" features to come in the 80's.... but when the Super Duty line came out.... then they made real trucks again 
but one thing that u'll want is Rear suspension blocks... keep from squatin bad, thats one thing that starts the hop in the first place. starts in back and moves forward.... and can give u the ride of a lifetime
but one thing that u'll want is Rear suspension blocks... keep from squatin bad, thats one thing that starts the hop in the first place. starts in back and moves forward.... and can give u the ride of a lifetime
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
My neighbor pulled his highboy back in the 80's, it's a '75 with a weight bracket, traction bars and adjustable drawbar and blocked rear suspension. Truck has a stout 410 mercury FE with 427 heads. The stock 44 and 60 axles held up good. He broke some u-joints every once in a while but nothing too bad.