
A PPE lift pump plumbed with -10 AN (5/8-inch) line allows fuel pressure to be adjusted to suit Newly's needs. He reports that the addition of the lift pump helped him drop three tenths of a second in the quarter-mile.
Making The Drivetrain Live
Chevy trucks come with stout drivetrains, but when you are racing and making twice as much horsepower as stock, things are bound to break. The Allison 1000 transmission was upgraded after Newly fried it while romping in the dunes at Glamis. He limped the truck to PPE and had them install an ATS Five Star billet torque converter and deep pan with PPE's Stage V transmission kit. The new PPE components include an upgraded valvebody, new power valve, and additional clutch discs. An ATS Co-Pilot increases the line pressure to the transmission and increases torque capacity. Behind the transmission, a Sun Coast brace was added to a factory replacement tailhousing, between the transmission and the transfer case, after the original tailhousing cracked during a hard launch.
Downstream from the transfer case, the factory axles were retained, including the stock 3.73 gear ratio and rear Gov-Loc differential. The steering, however, is a known weakness on the GM trucks and has undergone significant upgrades. ATS tie rod sleeves and Cognito Motorsports pitman arm and idler arm braces keep the front tires pointed straight during hard launches in four-wheel drive. Bilstein 5100 shocks smooth out the ride, and Firestone air springs level the truck when it is put to work during the week. The 18-inch Helo Maxx 8 rims and 33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires work well in all conditions--whether towing, racing, or working in the field.
All Around Winner
Other additions to the truck--like the 800-watt stereo system, the 85-gallon transfer tank in the bed, and the rearview camera system--make the GM more practical and enjoyable to drive regardless of the occasion. That is what makes diesel trucks so appealing, regardless of whether you live in a rural or urban area. As Newly has demonstrated, the same vehicle can be used to haul things in the bed or haul down the track. Tow trailers or go toe-to-toe with muscle cars. What more could a person need?
 Five-inch MBRP turbo back exhaust terminates at the rear of the truck with a six-inch chrome tip. |  The Allison transmission was rebuilt by PPE after Tolf cooked it at the Glamis Sand Dunes. The transmission now uses an ATS billet five-clutch torque converter, PPE upgraded valvebody, and high-friction clutches inside. On the outside, a Sun Coast brace reinforces the tailhousing and an ATS deep pan adds additional cooling and fluid capacity. |  Bilstein 5100 shocks and Firestone air springs complement the factory rear suspension. The 5-inch MBRP exhaust is routed over the AAM 1150 rear axle, which is capped with a high-capacity ATS differential cover. |