TaylorAnderson31
Well-Known Member
So I was fortunate enough to pick up a cool piece a few years back from Matt Parks, and the Beer Hauler has been an incredible race truck for me racing NORRA the last 3 years, and with a great chase team full of talented people we finished each year and managed 3 wins in our 2wd Pioneer Truck class. The truck was a prerunner in its previous life, built by Randy LaFortune it is believed. We run stock leaf suspension, with triple Fox 2.0's on each corner, also run a 1 ton beam setup, a well built 70's styled truck. Matt Parks documented its incredible re-build on RDC, and I fell in love with it.
This year we see quite a few rule changes and find ourselves not able to race this class.
Shocks come through the bed, which is no longer allowed.
full floater rear end, not allowed.
a 427 motor(12 cubic inches over the limit of 415 Ci)
This places us either in Challenger or Vintage Open w/Rear leaf.
Challenger would be cool, but we are running now against trucks that are allowed coil-overs up front, wider than stock beams, and longer radius arms. Leaf springs can be quarter elliptical or dual shackle, links allowed but no rear coilovers.
Vintage Open is our other option, but Shock packages are unlimited, rear leafs must remain, with 2 links as an option.
My dilemma is this. Should this truck be left as it was rebuilt by Matt Parks, or should I upgrade it. If I leave it I don't believe we will be competitive with either Challenger or Vintage Open/Rear leaf. I know it is not Big Oly or Scoops old F100, but it is a piece of history in part as it was originally built in the 70's by people who knew what they were doing.
After talking with John at Autofab I am leaning on his front end upgrade. Taller spring buckets, 2" extended beam brackets and an equal length swing steering system that will really help the stock steering setup I run currently. This will allow for either twin 2 or 2.5 monotubes or a single 2.5 Coil Over.
another question is what to do with the rear end. We can add larger shocks and track bars which are also available from Autofab.
all opinions welcome and wanted..
This year we see quite a few rule changes and find ourselves not able to race this class.
Shocks come through the bed, which is no longer allowed.
full floater rear end, not allowed.
a 427 motor(12 cubic inches over the limit of 415 Ci)
This places us either in Challenger or Vintage Open w/Rear leaf.
Challenger would be cool, but we are running now against trucks that are allowed coil-overs up front, wider than stock beams, and longer radius arms. Leaf springs can be quarter elliptical or dual shackle, links allowed but no rear coilovers.
Vintage Open is our other option, but Shock packages are unlimited, rear leafs must remain, with 2 links as an option.
My dilemma is this. Should this truck be left as it was rebuilt by Matt Parks, or should I upgrade it. If I leave it I don't believe we will be competitive with either Challenger or Vintage Open/Rear leaf. I know it is not Big Oly or Scoops old F100, but it is a piece of history in part as it was originally built in the 70's by people who knew what they were doing.
After talking with John at Autofab I am leaning on his front end upgrade. Taller spring buckets, 2" extended beam brackets and an equal length swing steering system that will really help the stock steering setup I run currently. This will allow for either twin 2 or 2.5 monotubes or a single 2.5 Coil Over.
another question is what to do with the rear end. We can add larger shocks and track bars which are also available from Autofab.
all opinions welcome and wanted..
