PAUL - Yes, V-8's are at a REAL disadvantage with their shorter stroke, they really lack the low end torque of an in-line 6 but make good HP once they wind-up a bit.
I've put well over a Million miles on V-8 diesel trucks, My PSD, both 555 & 903 Cum-a-parts, and a V-8 Detroit or two, and with proper gearing (meaning plenty of narrow ratio lower gears the V-8's will run with the big 6's.
There was a discussion over on the RPM forum a couple weeks ago about the difference between alcohol & diesel pulling engines in the bigger HP pulling classes. Couple guys over there either work on professional pulling teams or compete actively in regional organizations.
You throw 250 to 300 PSI of boost at a DT-466 and your going to make some AWESOME HP. It's no wonder You see You-Tube videos of pulling tractor engines blowing in two across the camshaft bore!
I saw the same thing at pulls years ago when Kinzebaugh started putting 318's in 5020's, couple farmers out in Iowa pulled 4020's with 318's also, and then IH built the 1468's and people started pulling them. A turbo-charged 6 would pull much better than a V-8.
The best local pull back in the late 1960's & early 1970's was the NTPA pull in Davenport, IA., but most of the same pullers also went to the Henry County, IL. fair in Cambridge, IL. Local Steiger dealer, Warner's Turbo Shop from Kewaunee/Galve, IL. always supplied their BIG 903-powered Steiger as the pull back tractor. Terry Warner had done a little work to the pump on that engine and He really knew His Stuff! He sure made Dad's old 4010 run better after making a "House Call" to rebuild the pump in it late one night! After the last heaviest class was done Terry who was driving the Steiger would hook onto the OTHER END of the sled and pull the sled 350 to 400 feet with the weight box topped-out the last 200 feet. But compared to the 12,000# open class tractors that Steiger weighed at least 2-1/2 times as much so He should have pulled farther.
