drag truck....worth it?

[corey5988]

I have two trucks (a 2wd '01 F150 crew cab and a 4wd '99 reg cab short bed). I bought the '01 with a bad headgasket to fix, so that I would have more room for a winter beater. The '99 had a few lugnuts back off and broke the remaining studs screwing up some of the body work. I was going to sell it, but after that I thought about just pulling the drivetrain from it and dropping it in the crew cab and doing a SAS (solid axle swap) on it.

I then started thinking about making the '99 a dedicated drag truck. I recently got into drag pretty big and I don't want to make my car unstreetable. If I do this I would junk the truck title and trailer it to the track. I can get a 2wd frame for $300. My thought was to backhalf it after the cab and run a 4 link with coilovers. I like to go ahead an cage it, since ultimately I would like to go sub-10s. For drivetrain I was wanting to go with a 460 block with forged rods and pistons, blowthrough carb, and a decent sized turbo in front of a built, braked c6. Maybe shoot for 700-800hp.

So do you guys think this would be a good idea? I don't really want to go out and get another car, plus I though a truck would be cool since everyone builds cars.

 

[corey5988]

I decided to hell with using a 2wd frame. I'm going to pick up some 2x3x3/16 box tube and fab up a frame. I'll save weight and it will be easier to set it up right than back halfing a stock 2wd frame. For front suspension I'm going to run a Crown Vic front suspension. The aluminum subframe will save weight and and I'll have the 5x4.5" bolt pattern to run Mustang wheels. I have a spare S197 rear end laying around that I can use to setup my rear geometry and maybe use temporarily. Will have to check WMS, but I believe I can run SN95 offsets with that rear under the truck and tuck inside the bedsides.

 

[irishpwr46]

an f150 is a bit big to be a drag truck imho, but good luck with it. maybe consider a lightining or flareside bed for it. i would like to see how this turns out.

 

[corey5988]

I'm just looking to have fun and see what I can do with it. I believe gutting it, doing the tube frame, and the driveline changes will see massive improvement in weight. Since I don't have to worry about it being streetable everything that doesn't serve a functional purpose will be gone.

 

[01yellerCobra]

an f150 is a bit big to be a drag truck imho, but good luck with it. maybe consider a lightining or flareside bed for it. i would like to see how this turns out.

If he has a short bed then he has the Lightning bed already. The Lightning is just a short bed F150.

Sounds like it'll be fun no matter what. I'd like to do something like this someday.

 

[psfracer]

For drivetrain I was wanting to go with a 460 block with forged rods and pistons, blowthrough carb, and a decent sized turbo in front of a built, braked c6. Maybe shoot for 700-800hp.

You could easily get to 800hp on motor alone. Forget the C6, go TH400. Not PG as the truck will be too heavy.

 

[tjm73]

I was gonna say do a dedicated frame, but you already decided to do that. I say if you got the parts and money to build race only vehicle, go for it.

 

[irishpwr46]

If he has a short bed then he has the Lightning bed already. The Lightning is just a short bed F150.

Sounds like it'll be fun no matter what. I'd like to do something like this someday.

arent the lightning beds flaresides?

 

[psfracer]

Actually I would buy a roller then stick my own drive train in it. If you find the right vehicle, the chassis, suspension, etc will be done, and you will get it at 50 cents on the dollar or less, AND you won't be spending the next two years just getting the truck done. All you will need to worry about is motor and trans.

There are a lot of drag trucks for sale on racing junk, but most are S-10s. I did find this F150 on a quick search. Looks to be nicely done:

http://www.racingjunk.com/Race-Trucks/182296329/1996-F150-Pro-Race-Truck-Professionally-cust..html

As a side note, never buy a roller without a NHRA cert if you plan on racing it.

 

[tjm73]

arent the lightning beds flaresides?

Yes.

 

[corey5988]

I've got to get the crew cab fixed and out of the garage before work can start on this. I started prep to pull it's motor/tranny out last night.

You could easily get to 800hp on motor alone. Forget the C6, go TH400. Not PG as the truck will be too heavy.

Will definitely be a consideration. I want to get it to a roller before I set any drivetrain decisions in stone. Also your idea of buying a roller is a good idea, but one of my basis for doing this is the project in itself. I love tinkering around and working on vehicles. I think I'd get more enjoyment out of it all if I did all the work.

 

[psfracer]

Will definitely be a consideration. I want to get it to a roller before I set any drivetrain decisions in stone. Also your idea of buying a roller is a good idea, but one of my basis for doing this is the project in itself. I love tinkering around and working on vehicles. I think I'd get more enjoyment out of it all if I did all the work.

Certainly nothing wrong with that. I built a lot of mine in the garage also, as I like the work to. Its our hobby. A good roller already done would be more practical, but, practicality is not why we are in this hobby, is it?

 

[corey5988]

Certainly nothing wrong with that. I built a lot of mine in the garage also, as I like the work to. Its our hobby. A good roller already done would be more practical, but, practicality is not why we are in this hobby, is it?

That it is. I actually was doing some research on the ol' BBF, as I'm new to that game, and ran across some of your posts on the Bullet.

 

[moostang09]

Pics?! Looking forward to seeing progress on this.

 

[corey5988]

I'll be doing a project thread when I get the ball rolling. Got to get this crewcab done first.

 

[RED09GT]

Sounds like a cool project. Wish I had the time and space to build something like that