What makes Bill Heath's land speed race truck so interesting is it's based on a real production truck. It's a common '95 Chevy 1/2-ton, extended cab, short box, two-wheeldrive diesel, with a 4L80E automatic transmission. This particular truck served its original owner for 290,000 miles before it fell into the waiting hands of the 6.5L gurus at Heath Diesel. After a concentrated, year-long build, the truck debuted at the September World of Speed event on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
The World's Fastest 6.5L Diesel
The Heath Diesel land speed racer streaked to a solid 153mph pass across the salt in Bonneville, Utah, thrilling team members and supporters worldwide. Driver Bill Heath is confident the truck could have gone faster if he had driven a bit more aggressively-this was only his fourth pass across that great white expanse, and he was still getting a feel for the truck. In any case, 153 mph for a full-size Chevy pickup powered by a stock-block 6.5L is nothing to be ashamed of. Interested gearheads everywhere want to know how such a feat is possible-after all, isn't the 6.5L a slug?
Making it Possible
In today's world of common-rail injection systems, fourvalve heads, and crazy power levels, the indirect-injection 6.5L is often left standing in the shadows, but not on this sunny day on the salt. The guys at Heath Diesel are quick to point out that, while this engine may never be able to drag the world away, with the right modifications it can be reliable, fuel efficient, and able to produce sufficient power. The Heath team made the decision early on that its racer must be as close to stock as possible, and this included using the factory issued engine. In order to achieve its power goals, the team needed to make sure the engine would stay together.
Block and Internals
The Heath guys believe firmly in filling the coolant passages within 5/8 inch of the deck surface with hydraulic cement. Filling these passages strengthens the block, and decreases bore flex while tying the cylinders more securely to the main bearing caps. Heath Diesel allows 45 days for the process prior to any machine work, and claims that this process does not result in a negative affect on cooling. In fact, all Heath engines, even those used in heavy towing, are treated to this same process. The block was then machined, and with the exception of the crankshaft, was fitted with stock internals.
 The stock 6.5L block was paired...  The stock 6.5L block was paired with twin S200 turbochargers from BD Diesel and water-mist injection. |  Here is the Chevy nearly ready...  Here is the Chevy nearly ready for paint. |  GM Sandlewood was applied...  GM Sandlewood was applied by Brian Maybee's McIntosh Auto Body in Ellensburg, Washington. |