NEW PROFESSIONAL AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES AVAILABLE IN CENTRAL MISSOURI!
Being I've always
been fascinated with old school automotive high performance engines and I've
built my own automotive engines and hot rods with excellent results, and
now that I have a much bigger and better shop, A-1 Miller's Performance
Enterprises now offers complete old school automotive rebuilding and
modifications, and car and truck repairs, modifications and building of
custom-made hot rods, street rods, motorcycle repairs. Chevrolet, GMC, Chrysler,
Ford, Harley-Davidson, etc. We also offer construction of pull-back and
self-propelled garden tractor pulling sleds.
Please click here if you're interested
in any of these services and for more details and information.
(Posted 6/28/24.)
Build You a Competitive 2WD "Small Tire", 4WD "Small Tire", or a 2WD Pro-Street Mini Pulling Truck -
These
type of small pulling trucks would not cost nearly as much to build and maintain
as a traditional full-size (and high dollar) pulling truck. And it would
probably cost about the same or maybe less to build a 2WD or 4WD small wheel
pulling truck than it would cost to build a competitive garden pulling tractor.
In addition, unlike the full-size pulling trucks, which require a large,
heavy towing vehicle and a heavy duty goose-neck trailer to haul the truck
to and from the pull sites, these small and light-weight mini pulling trucks
require just a newer/late model 1/2 ton pickup truck (which have better braking
than earlier/older trucks) and a 16 ft. tandem axle utility trailer is all
that's needed. It'll be low-cost and very economically to build, maintain,
and transport a truck of this type to and from the pull sites.
If you decide to build one of these trucks for pulling yourself, it'll be best to use a mini pickup truck or an early model/vintage (pre-1955±) 1/2 ton pickup truck that weighs no more than 2,900 lbs. The most practical (short bed) mini trucks to use are: 1947-'55 Chevy/GMC 1/2 ton (with a 4 cylinder or V6 engine), Chevy LUV, Chevy S-10/Colorado, GMC S-15/Sonoma/Canyon, Ford Ranger, Toyota, Nissan Hardbody, Mitsubishi Mighty Max, Mazda B-Series, Jeep Comanche, Isuzu, Dodge Ram 50, etc.
For the two wheel drive (2WD) class, it's best to use a short wheelbase (approximately 108" from center of the front spindle to the center of the rear axle) truck because less forward weight will be transferred toward the rear tires, allowing the tires to dig in better for improved traction. And for the four wheel drive (4WD) class, it's best to use a long wheelbase (approximately 118" from center of the front axle to the center of the rear axle) truck because the extended forward weight will place more weight on the front tires, allowing them to have more traction for improved traction.
To build a mini class pulling truck like these, the basic necessities are:
Exhaust Manifold or Header Pipe Mounting Gaskets VS Using Just Silicone Sealant Alone - Which Works Best?
Personally, whenever we install
exhaust manifolds or header pipes on an engine, we don't use gaskets. Instead,
we use RTV clear silicone sealant because silicone will not burn due to normal
or extreme exhaust heat. (Silicone can withstand up to 5,000º F.) Anyway,
gaskets always compress or "squeeze down" where the fastening bolts are,
causing the cast iron manifold to flex a few thousandths of an inch or thinner
steel header flanges to bend more than a few thousandths of an inch where
the mounting bolts are. When metal is compressed, the uncompressed area that's
between the bolts will allow the gasket(s) to leak and eventually burn out.
Also, before we install the manifolds or headers on an engine, we use a long,
wide flat file to make sure the mounting flanges on the manifolds or headers
are perfectly flat. Using silicone and the elimination of gaskets will allow
the manifolds or header flanges to be mounted flat against the cylinder heads,
creating absolute metal-to-metal contact, which also keep the mounting bolts
securely tight. The bolts will not loosen under any circumstances. Plus,
the silicone fills in the imperfections between the two metals, eliminating
any leaks. By the way - it's best to use
Clear RTV Silicone Adhesive Sealant for three reasons:
Gaskets don't always seal the irregularities between mating metals, especially
thin metal covers; being it's an adhesive, it bonds parts together, forming
a leak-proof seal; and being it's clear, it makes for a clean and
professional-looking repair job. When applied sparingly, it can't be easily
seen or noticed between the parts. Also, engine heat has very little effect
on silicone rubber. It can withstand up to 2,500 degrees heat.
Using 26-12.00x12 Pulling Tires/Wheels with Automotive Axles -
All
12" diameter wheels, rather for a garden tractor or small utility trailer,
come in the 4.5" x 5" bolt pattern (4-1/2" spacing with 5 bolt holes). An
early model 8" or 9" Ford car axle flange will work with 12" garden tractor
wheels because they have the same bolt pattern. The bolt pattern that come
in virtually every 12" diameter wheel center that have 5 mounting holes is
4-1/2". This size bolt pattern will work on Ford Ranger mini trucks. But
to use 12" wheels on a Chevy S10 or GMC Jimmy mini truck, the centers can
be adapted to a different bolt pattern (4-3/4") by drilling five new holes
between the existing 4-1/2" holes using a super spacer or indexing fixture
on the table of a large milling machine. 12" diameter wheel blanks are available
at
millertire.com. But to use a Ford truck or GM car or truck
axle with 12" garden tractor wheels, the centers will need to be cut out
of each wheel, and then true-up and weld-in the automotive centers in the
12" wheels. Make sure the offset back-spacing is set correctly, too. Go here:
Wheel Bolt Pattern Cross Reference Database and Conversion
Guide. To locate a set of wheels with the bolt pattern that's needed,
try a local automotive salvage yard, search eBay or Craigslist.
And we can't really give you a dollar amount to build a competitive two wheel drive or 4WD mini class pulling truck because building a mini-rod depends greatly on where you can find or purchase the parts, the quality of the parts, and their availability. If one owns their own auto salvage yard and/or an automotive machine/speed shop/business, and is a professional machinist and welder, then it shouldn't cost much at all to build their own mini class pulling truck. But if you don't possess these things, then it will cost a lot more. And as for the parts required to build a mini-rod, first, you will need a small truck cab and bed, a sturdy frame or chassis with the steering mechanisms and brakes, a 4-cylinder or V6 engine (because of their lightweight) in good condition, a lightweight automatic or manual transmission with a shielded flywheel, rear and front tires/wheels, centers out of the truck wheels to weld in the garden tractor wheels, various other parts, and lots of engineering to complete the truck and make it truly competitive on the track. Go here for videos: Check out our YouTube channel to see these pulling trucks in action. 2WD Pro Street Mini Pulling Trucks on YouTube.
Click
Here for Detailed Illustrated Plans on How to Construct a Professional Pull-Back
and Self-Propelled Garden Tractor Pulling Sled (Available
Soon)
FYI - The self-propelled garden tractor pulling sled that I built is such
an excellent design, I realized later that I made something very special
when other people copied after it. - Brian Miller
For inquiries, please contact:
Brian Miller of A-1 Miller's Performance Enterprises,
12091 N Route B, Hallsville, MO (Missouri) 65255-9604 USA.
Phone: 1-573-881-7229 (cell; call,
text or leave voicemail) or use
Whatsapp. Please call
any day, including holidays. If no answer, please try again later. (When
speaking with Brian on the phone, please be patient and understanding because
I stutter.)
E-mail:
pullingtractor@aol.com. A-1 Miller's
shop is open to the public everyday, including holidays. Please contact me
before coming so I'll be at my shop waiting for your arrival. When you visit
our shop, you will be dealing directly with the owner for the best customer
service. Location:
12091 N Route B, Hallsville, MO - Google Maps "The road
to a [trusted] friend's house (or shop) is never long." Don't sacrifice quality
workmanship for distance.
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