How to Build a Tractor Pulling Engine for Trucks

Tractor-pulling trucks must move huge amounts of weight from one place to another. Not only does the truck have to get it down the track, but it must do it while the load is continuously increased the further down the track you go. To pull more weight, a truck must be modified so it can handle the extreme forces that are needed to compete. Turning a stock diesel engine into a tractor-pulling monster takes engine modifications to increase torque and traction once the weight is added to the truck and the pulling begins.

Things You'll Need

• Twin turbo kit (diesel engines)
• Electronic computer unit Upgrade chip
• Exhaust kit
• Competition ladder bars
• Wrenches (Allen, open end, closed end, sockets)
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Remove the exhaust headers and replace them with turbo headers to redirect the exhaust into turbo fans that boost the air pressure inside the intake manifold of the engine. Installing twin turbos on a standard diesel truck engine can increase horsepower by 50 percent. This added power allows a truck to pull more weight with just the inclusion of this performance upgrade for tractor-pulling trucks.

2. Reprogram the factory computer program with a performance chip to increase the way the computer communicates with the engine. By simply buying and installing a new program with a new set of procedures for operation in the electronic computer unit, you can add an additional 50 percent horsepower and torque. Simple hand-held programmers are available that take the user through a series of yes and no questions to adjust the current factory programming into a performance program. The new program can accommodate the stresses of pulling large weights behind a stock diesel engine truck for tractor-pulling competitions.

3. Install a performance exhaust that allows for more air to be expelled from the engine. Building more horsepower and torque means more heat and gases will build in the engine. These need to be removed quickly to avoid overheating. Disconnect all existing exhaust parts from the stock exhaust hangers and flanges so that the entire exhaust and mufflers can be removed. Install a large-diameter exhaust (4 inches plus) to be able to run the upgraded diesel engine at full throttle. Because the number one damage-producing element to making more horsepower with a stock engine is heat, it is imperative to remove the superheated gases quickly to avoid internal damage during use.

4. Remove the old rear axle suspension parts that allow for the tractor-pulling engine to shake its tires, causing the truck to sit and spin its tires instead of moving the tractor-pulling load down the track. Replace shocks and springs with ladder bars that secure the rear axle directly to the truck's frame rail. By adding this suspension upgrade, your engine will be able to direct the tractor's pulling power directly to the track. Truck ladder bars allow for more power to be generated by a tractor-pulling engine before the tires and wheels spin out without going anywhere at all.

5. Adjust the output of the diesel fuel pump so that it is pumping up to 25 percent more diesel fuel into the engine to be burned for power. When you add more air into the engine, and a way for more air to escape, you can increase the output of factory diesel fuel pumps to build more power naturally. Locate the fuel engine's fuel pump and remove the cap that covers the adjustment screw. For Ford Power Stroke motors, it is located in front of the engine near the radiator fan. Simply turning the screw one-quarter rotation clockwise with a flat-edged screwdriver will effectively increase the amount of fuel the pump will push through the system by 25 percent.

Tips & Warnings

• Start with the air in and air out first. Performing computer upgrades before improving air flow into the engine and out the exhaust can create high-temperature conditions that will burn piston rings and damage internal parts. Turbos, exhaust, computer programming and fuel pump adjustment should be the order you perform these power enhancement procedures to avoid engine damage. Add an exhaust gas temperature gauge to be sure that your engine is not overheating during use. Protect against damaged engine parts by adding gauges that monitor the important operational readings that are crucial to the reliability of performance upgrades.

• Internal Damage Warning! When you make more power with a factory engine, you risk damaging internal parts with excessive heat. Never operate at maximum capacity until proper testing has been completed. You can ruin a performance tractor-pulling engine by simply forgetting to check simple features of performance engines like excessive heat buildup and lack of proper fluids for lubrication.

Resources

• Gale Banks Diesel Truck Performance Upgrades