In stock format, the Silverado 1-ton dualie Duramax is a real beast of a truck--ready to pull stumps and tear up the highway at a moment's notice. With 310 hp and a whopping 605 lb-ft of torque on call driving through a heavy-duty Allison transmission, the Silverado is ready for all comers, and few trucks can match its sheer brute strength. However, when an aftermarket company like Bully Dog--known for its prowess with diesel-powered trucks--gets hold of a pickup like this, you just know the transformation will be something special.
Another strong member of our trio of cover trucks, the Diesel Adrenalin project Chevy from Bully Dog was built to bring recognition to the Aberdeen, Idaho-based company, and the end result is indeed one wild ride. Retina-catching in bright yellow and gray, jacked up to the sky, sporting a barrage of engine mods, and an effective array of aftermarket tweaks, the Diesel Adrenalin does its job of attracting attention to the company name well.
Bully Dog's strong suit is adding performance upgrades to diesel powerplants, and Diesel Adrenalin has been tweaked to perfection. Although the company is still in the process of building up the big Chevy's diesel engine, the ride does sport a mix of Bully Dog electronics, all controlled by the company's custom Power Pup downloader. The Power Pup has the ability to dial-in a number of engine variables, adjusting the engine's electronics for peak performance, and much more. The downloader can reset the rev limiter, adjust air/fuel mixtures, reset horsepower and torque figures, and even change the tire size to correctly adjust the speedo.
Bully Dog also fully tweaked the Chevy's Allison 1000 transmission, turning it into a Bully Dog high-performance transmission for high-efficiency shifting ability and top performance. The engine now exhales through a custom-built 4-inch Bully Dog exhaust, freeing up even more horsepower and torque. Bully Dog's careful engine manipulations definitely have paid off: The engine now offers 465 hp and a stunning 900 lb-ft of torque.
The adrenaline level is indeed high, thanks to a carefully orchestrated suspension system, installed by Twisted Suspension of Fresno, California. The suspension lifts the truck an additional 12 inches off the pavement, pushing the adrenaline to maximum heights. The rolling stock is a bit unusual in that the stock dualie was changed to single wheels in the rear. The front sports big rig-type wheels, which now measure 22x5 inches, and the rears check in at an impressive 22x14 inches. Special wheel adapters from Arrowcraft were used to convert the Chevy's hole pattern for the big rig wheels. Those stylish Accuride wheels are wrapped by Michelin rubber all around.
This bright-yellow dog is...
This bright-yellow dog is definitely not one to stay on the porch.
One of the first items you notice on the big Chevy is the paintjob, and that paint is set down in impressive hues of DuPont yellow and gray. The overall effect shows the yellow paint being ripped off the gray metal plates, and the final impression is stunning. That paint was expertly sprayed by John Blackman. Lastly, a Bully Dog bulldog was painted on the tailgate to proudly display the truck's pedigree in style.
Aftermarket upgrades to the Diesel Adrenalin certainly didn't stop with the engine, suspension, and paint. The Chevy also features shaved door handles with a remote opener by Autolock, a custom-fabricated front bumper, a custom Bully Dog hood, and clear taillights. To make sure the Diesel Adrenalin easily makes it to its chosen location, the stock fuel tank was replaced with a Titan 50-gallon unit.
A number of Bully Dog electronic...
A number of Bully Dog electronic tweaks and a Bully Dog 4-inch exhaust help to up the horsepower and torque ante. The engine is mated to a Bully Dog-upgraded Allison transmission.
Naturally, with this much aftermarket refinement, the stereo system also needed to be raised to a new level, and to that effect a set of Sony components were expertly wired into place. These include a Sony Xplod head unit, a Sony equalizer, and Sony wiring throughout. The tunes now play brilliantly through a Sony subwoofer and amp located under the rear seat and a number of Sony component speakers installed in the Chevy's stock speaker locations.
We first spotted Diesel Adrenalin at last year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and it impressed us enough to include it in this first issue of Diesel Power, prominently placed on our cover. Bully Dog is still tweaking the truck, and we're confident that the final result will be bullish indeed.
 The Chevy's rolling stock...  The Chevy's rolling stock is a bit unusual with big rig-style Accuride wheels measuring 22x5 inches on the front and impressive 22x14-inch wheels on the back. Those wheels are wrapped by Michelin rubber. |  Custom suspension pieces from...  Custom suspension pieces from Twisted Suspension help raise the Diesel Adrenalin a total of 12 inches. |  Bully Dog's Power Pup downloader...  Bully Dog's Power Pup downloader has the ability to dial-in a number of engine variables, adjusting the engine's electronics for peak performance. |