Normally, every month, we try and bring you the best Ford, Dodge, and GM questions we get—but not this month. We don’t know if it’s a full moon or what, but we’ve been getting a lot of oddball questions lately, and now we’re going to answer them!
More Speed, Scotty!
Question: I am looking to break the current 2,000cc-and-under land speed record for a diesel, and I was wondering if you had a list of engineers you could recommend to me for the project.
Reg Cook
Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand
| Racing El Camino
Answer: Ummm…we left our Rolodex of small diesel engine engineers at home, but we’ll take a stab at it! According to the Southern California Timing Association’s website, you’d be in the G/DT Class (under 2,000cc diesel truck) in which the current record is 129.66 mph, and held by Hashim’s Auto, sponsored by Car Quest. If you’re looking at setting a diesel car record (rather than a truck), you’ll have to go against the gas/alcohol rigs, which hold a current record of more than 200 mph, so we think the truck thing will be easier.
OK, so our first step would be to acquire an older minitruck; something from the ’80s, like a Ranger, Luv, Toyota, Nissan, or even one of those rabbit trucks (called Caddys outside the U.S.). The record is for production-bodied vehicles, so the engine can be anything, provided it is less than 2,000 cc. For the powerplant, we’d use a Volkswagen TDI motor. Why? Well, because we’ve seen drag racers make 300 to 400 rwhp with them, which should be more than enough to blast past the current record. Given the aerodynamic drag of a lowered, small, diesel truck with skinny tires and SCTA-legal aerodynamic modifications, we’d guess a pass in the 170- to 190-mph range should be possible.
New Diesels Sound Like Sissy Trucks
Question: I’ve been a fan of diesel trucks for a year now, and I just bought a 2010 Dodge turbodiesel. I just want to get this truck to sound like a real diesel. But with the sensors this new truck has, I am losing hope. What can I do to make this truck sound like a real diesel? I mean, real diesel.
Ed
From Texas
| 12 Valve Cummins Dodge Ram
Answer: Well, Ed, we’re not sure what you mean by “sound like a real diesel,” but it’s our guess that instead of quiet and refined, you want a loud diesel engine clatter like the old 12-valve Dodges. The easiest way to do this is to sell your new common-rail engine for $5,000 to $7,000, pick up an old 12-valve for about $2,500, and then use the rest of the cash to pay a shop to do the swap! You won’t have to get your hands dirty, and you might even end up cash ahead in the whole deal. You’ll still have the creature comforts of the new diesel, but with that awesome, old-engine knock. The best of both worlds! For those Dodge owners who have an EFILive-supported truck, you can also play with eliminating the pre- and post-injection events to get that must-have diesel rattle.
Wanting it ALL Question: I’m looking for a ’97 Ford F-350 Power Stroke, and I’m wondering if you could help me. I will use it for towing a 42-foot gooseneck, would like to take it to my local truck pulls, and use it off-road very often. I would like to lift it 8 inches and put 40-inch tires on it. I would also like to twin-turbo it. I plan to go through and beef up the engine and swap a five-speed manual transmission into it.
Bryce -via email
| Ford F 250 Pulling Sled
Answer: If you’re looking to build a reliable 700 to 800hp 7.3L-powered Ford that can live with a huge lift and monster tires, it’s going to take some doing. You’re basically looking at the combination of Erik Clausen’s Diesel Power Challenge 2012–winning truck and Rocky Horn’s DPC 2011–winning OBS Ford.
For starters, we’re willing to say that it is completely possible to make 800 hp or more with a compound-turbo Ford, but you’re looking at a rebuilt engine with upgraded connecting rods, aftermarket high-pressure oil pump(s), 400/400 injectors, and a custom compound-turbo system, which will drain your bank account to the tune of at least $20K. After that, a custom adapter for a ZF-6 transmission (which is the one we would use due to it being much stronger than the ZF-5), a stout clutch, and the ZF transmission itself will set you back at least another $5,000 to $7,000. Finally, a custom coilover suspension with bypass shocks, driveshafts, 1480 U-joints, wheels, and tires will be another $10,000 to $15,000. So after about $40,000 (plus labor, plus the purchase price of your truck, which could make it $60,000 or more), you’ll pretty much have the baddest 7.3L Power Stroke out there.
We’re going to assume you don’t have that much money and give you the inexpensive version. Cutting out the custom suspension, compounds, and engine build will save a pile of cash. If you’re willing to sacrifice some off-road capability and sled pulling reliability and ditch the coilovers for leaf springs, we’d still get front and rear traction bars built (a must for lifted sled pulling), swap in a Dana 80 rear axle, and run an S400 single turbo. We’d guess you’ll be at about 550 hp, reliably, for $15,000, which is more realistic for most people. For more ideas on how to turn your old-school Ford into a monster, check out Mike McGlothlin’s ’97 Ford build at dieselpowermag.com.
