"We've got basically all aspects of the engine where we know how the engine's been built, how the fuel system has been built, what turbos we have to work with and what we need to do to cool the motor off," Scheid said. "We have an engine dyno where we can put the engines on the dyno, and actually run them, set them up and dial them in and make sure everything's correct on the engine as far as where it's going to run rpm-wise, boost pressure-wise, horsepower-wise. And make sure we have the motor sealed up well and that we have good oil pressure.
"When we pull the engine off the dyno, we can pretty much be assured it's going to be capable of going down the track."
Scheid's Web site, www.scheid diesel.com, lists no fewer than 16 Scheid-powered vehicles competing at a national level- two owned by Scheid and 14 driven by drivers from states including North Carolina, Illinois, and Kentucky.
One reason for the extensive roster is the power of the engines, but there's another, subtler reason, Dale Smith said: the relationship with Scheid only starts when the engine is installed.
SCHEID'S PERSONAL TOUCH
"What amazed me about Dan is, if he knew we were running on a Saturday night, if I didn't call him when we were running, he would call me," Smith said. "He always wants to know, 'What's going on? What can we do to make something better? What do you think? What did the truck do? What did the engine do?' Dan takes the products he builds-his pumps, injectors, and his turbos-personally. Failure really bothers the guy.
"Who would stand behind a drag-racing or pulling engine? there's no warranty. I lost an engine and in a couple of weeks, Dan called me and said, 'I want to build you another engine.' I said, 'Dan, I can't afford another engine.' He said, 'you're not listening to me. I want to build you another engine. you buy the engine block. I'll let you have it at cost. We're going to change this all around at no cost to you.'
"They're constantly changing their product. I'll call him up and say, Dan, 'I'm thinking about this intake.' He'll say, 'yep, we're into that. We're going to do it a little bit different.' you never get above him. this guy is a demanding person. You can see it from his employees, but his employees think the world of him. He wants the best out there and he's going to see he has the best."