I'm hoping to compete next year in some of the sled pulls down south. The association is the Central Ontario Tractor Pulling Association.
Their rules are basically the same as the DHRA rules.

Anyone have a good picture of the hitch that is required??

From what i've read since I'll be having to get a D-saft hoop(no big deal there) The cross ways bolts, I'm guessing that is to prevent shrapnell chunks from going through the exhaust if the turbo lets go. How would these bolts be installed as to not cause an exhaust leak??

Thanks for all the help and answers.

P.S. Link to the COTPA rules. http://www.cotpa.org/06rules.htm Their closest to stock diesel class seems to be the Pro Street Diesel 4X4 Trucks, 8200LBS

TTT. Someone must have a pic of their hitch atleast.

This is a good thread about hitches, check it out.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101055

I drilled my crossbolt holes right on size and they still leak a little bit, but it's not been any kind of issue for me. I have a free-flow muffler, so that helps. I don't smell anything in the cab.

It might be possible to put a ceramic fiber washer (like Kaowool, FiberFrax, etc) in there to seal the bolts.....or have washers custom machined with the radius of the downpipe, but that's a bit overboard IMHO.

If you're not making gobs of power, use the stock reciever and read the threads regarding adjustable hitches. If you're going to be a dedicated puller and make a lot of power, a custom fabbed hitch is the ticket. If you're going to dabble in pulling then don't worry about it.

The rules for Pro Street Diesel are a little confusing regarding suspension mods. They say you can't strap your suspension, "would that include the center link?" I kinda like my tie rod ends, but I'm to cheap for sleaves since I haven't had a problem yet. I know organizations have got kinda crappy about this in the past. They rules also state "no blocking of suspensions", would that include spring blocks that ride more then 1" off the axle tube?

Blitz, post the rules you're talking about. I've never seen a set that specifically refer to strapping. I've seen a lot of comment on "no rigid suspensions," but strapping? Really?

nwpadmax, check out the link 06bowtie-guy posted
http://www.cotpa.org/06rules.htm
I did a print screen of the rule in question. Check out rule #10. Maybe I'm just reading it wrong
26800

Uh, my argument to that is that the intent of the rule seems to be to prevent guys from severely restricting suspension travel to gain a traction advantage (which people have been screwing with since the beginning of time). If you put a strap the steering link to reinforce it, it has zero effect on suspension travel, and therefore should not be a rule infraction IMHO.

Maybe you should get braces, or better yet, just run a straight link. Problem solved.

In this case I would contact the pulling organization for clarification.

I'll probably end up with a straight link before next season.

I was just trying to get clarification for 06bowtie_guy incase the organization screws with him.

nwpadmax, you're always a great source of Dmax wisdom. :ro)

09bowtie_guy, I'm actually working to build a number of pulling hitches to sell, should be available by late winter. I'm not yet a registered vendor, so thats about all I can say for now. Diesel Power still has a few more attempts to break the prototype before we call out making a bunch of them. He's got one of the toughest Dmaxs around, so if he's satisfied I think we're golden.

IMHO you should get one tested on a strong Dmax that runs on some of the more bitey clay tracks on the east coast.

You've got a point there max'y. Nick sure is making some sweet power though. East Coast should be just about done pulling by now, right? I'm pretty confident in the design, and just wanted Nick to give it a tug for confidence.

The way I read the rule, strapping the centerlink is perfectly legit. It is a steering component, not a suspension component. You could even argue from a safety standpoint (driver and spectator) that the centerlink should be strapped, supported, or replaced with a straight link to keep the toe-in in check and keep tie-rods from bending and shrapneling axles (extreme case, but a liability none-the-less).


nwpadmax, check out the link 06bowtie-guy posted
http://www.cotpa.org/06rules.htm
I did a print screen of the rule in question. Check out rule #10. Maybe I'm just reading it wrong
26800

I think in any case we've got a good argument for strapping our center link.

Strapping isn't difficult, but I think nwpadmax is right, a straight link is the best way to go.