Dodge Ram Sled Pullers - Diesel Engine

It's not every day that you come across a husband and wife duo in the world of motorsports. And it's even more rare to find a married couple competing at the highest level of diesel truck pulling. But Robert and Faith Miller of Yadkinville, North Carolina, have been doing just that the last four years. If you've been to any national pulling event recently, chances are you've seen each of their Super Stock trucks in action. This is their story.

Getting Hooked
Robert was the first to be reeled into the sport, courtesy of his son Robby. After building a truck intended for local brush pulls, Robert decided to construct a truck fit to compete at sanctioned events. As it turns out, we at Diesel Power offered a bit of guidance in formulating Robert's truck's plans. "With the other truck, we started blowing head gaskets and breaking parts, so I got Diesel Power magazine and said, 'I'm gonna find someone who can build me a motor that I don't have to worry about breaking,'" he told us. "Then I found the Scheid Diesel advertisement, called, and they told me to talk to Brad Ingram. I told him that I wanted to sled pull, and the rest is history."

The Scheid Connection
Beginning with a second-generation Dodge built to compete in the Diesel Hot Rod Association's Street Diesel Class, the folks at Scheid didn't disappoint-Robert won the points chase that year. The following year he stepped up to a twin-turbo'd setup and won the DHRA Super Street Class. In the midst of his success, Faith-who'd been there from the beginning helping out with the truck-wanted to try her hand in the sport as well. "I told him I'd like to pull some time," she said. And with Rod Tarr's Pro Stock (3.0 Class) Dodge for sale, Faith got her wish-and the Pullin' To Please truck was born. After just one pull, she, too, was addicted. "I used to say, 'How in the world can anybody spend that much money on a truck and get hooked to this sport?' But Robert was right, I was hooked once I pulled," Faith said.

Let It Roll II
With plans to ditch the second-generation Dodge called Let It Roll and build a fiberglass bodied, tilt-hood, all-out Super Stock truck, Robert couldn't pass up an offer to buy Terry Martin's rig in 2008. The truck, called Ratical Ram II, had everything he wanted, so the purchase was made and the name was changed to Let It Roll II. In hindsight, Robert believes buying the truck was for the best. "I saved myself a lot of time and aggravation, instead of building my own from scratch," he told us.

A slew of water, fuel, and boost lines are present under each of the truck's hoods. Power-wise, Robert Miller told us he believes his wife, Faith's, engine makes more than 1,600 hp, while his puts out a little more than 1,400 hp. Both engines consume as much water as they do fuel, which is usually 1 to 1-1/2 gallons per pass.
A slew of water, fuel, and boost lines are present under each of the truck's hoods. Power-
The 13mm P7100 injection pump on Faith's truck is considered maxed out according to Robert, flowing 900 cc of fuel.
The 13mm P7100 injection pump on Faith's truck is considered maxed out according to Robert
Since obtaining his truck from Terry Martin, the main change Robert made is the injection pump. Originally equipped with a 12-plunger P-pump from a 12-cylinder diesel engine, a 14mm, 6-plunger unit took its place on the Cummins mill. Robert told us that after a few stuck plunger issues with the 12-cylinder unit, he wanted something a little more reliable, and the change improved the truck's pit and idling manners a great deal.
Since obtaining his truck from Terry Martin, the main change Robert made is the injection

Both trucks' turbo setups include two chargers. Shown here is Faith's low-pressure turbo with the high-pressure unit behind it. The trucks push 140 to 150 psi of boost during a pull.
Both trucks' turbo setups include two chargers. Shown here is Faith's low-pressure turbo w
As you can see, Robert and Faith work as a team round the clock. Although Faith told us Robert handles most of the mechanical work, he was very adamant that she turns wrenches on their trucks as well.
As you can see, Robert and Faith work as a team round the clock. Although Faith told us Ro
Robert's truck has an '08 Dodge fiberglass body with a tilt-hood. Did you know that only standard cab configurations are available for '08-and-newer fiberglass Dodge bodies?
Robert's truck has an '08 Dodge fiberglass body with a tilt-hood. Did you know that only s

Pullin' To Please
Faith's truck was a single-turbo'd, stock body and frame, Cummins-powered Dodge that was originally built to compete in 3.0-inch- diameter inducer classes in the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association. But when the Millers decided to go to the next level, the NV4500 was ditched in favor of a single-speed reverser, a twin-turbo setup was installed, and the truck got downright serious. "I told Faith, 'If we're gonna build a truck, we're gonna make a competitive one.' So we turned it into a Modified puller," Robert said.

Scheid Power
No doubt, the crew at Scheid Diesel built the Millers two very impressive trucks. Running in the same class, Robert and Faith's trucks are somewhat similar. They both have Scheid-built 12:1 compression Cummins powerplants, and Scheid turbos, injectors, and identical water injection systems. Both trucks send power to Pro Fab Machine reverser transmissions and drop boxes via four-disc Hayes clutches, run 6.20 axle gears, and utilize Corsa data logging systems. The only noticeable exterior difference is that Robert's truck houses a Rockwell 106 axle up front and a Rockwell SQHD axle in the rear, where Faith's truck retains the factory Dana 60 up front and has a Rockwell 106 in the rear.

The Perfect Pulling Team
In just a few short years, Robert and Faith have come a long way in the sport. From spreading interest in truck pulling in their home state to wrenching on their rigs in the shop, it's a true partnership. "She's with me 24-7, and she's right there underneath the truck anytime we're working on anything," Robert commented about Faith. "She's also my number-one fan."

We'd say that Robert and Faith are quite the duo. Their enthusiasm for diesel sled pulling has yielded them a very unique hobby, and they are two very unique individuals. We look forward to seeing them pull in 2010, when they'll no doubt be promoting the sport they love, as well as competing in it.

Here is the massive Rockwell SQHD in the rear of Robert's truck. Both trucks run 6.20 axle gearing, a common ratio for high-powered pulling rigs.
Here is the massive Rockwell SQHD in the rear of Robert's truck. Both trucks run 6.20 axle
The inside of Faith's truck actually doesn't resemble a typical Super Stock interior. Most of the dash is still factory, the carpet flooring was retained, and the power windows still work.
The inside of Faith's truck actually doesn't resemble a typical Super Stock interior. Most
The hand-throttle in Faith's truck is equipped with a T-handle, which Robert calls the Herman Munster handle. Also notice the brake lever, another subtle way of promoting the company helping their Cummins mills make 1,600 hp and turn more than 5,000 rpm.
The hand-throttle in Faith's truck is equipped with a T-handle, which Robert calls the Her

Though his truck has no cooling system to speak of (aside from water injection), Robert still likes to let his engine warm up to 130 degrees before hooking to the sled. Running down the track, he leaves the line at 5,500 to 5,800 rpm. And while his Cummins will spin 6,000 rpm, he knows its life is limited at this engine speed. In fact, Robert told us that anytime he exceeds 6,000 rpm, he starts over with new bearings and piston rings to avoid a catastrophic engine failure later on.
Though his truck has no cooling system to speak of (aside from water injection), Robert st
When we spoke with Faith, she gave us an idea of what it's like driving Pullin' To Please: "You pull up to the line, and the adrenaline starts. You start building rpm, let out of the clutch, and then you know you've got it once the second turbo lights. I also aim for a goal on how I want the truck to pull, because all the tracks are a little different. It's good to have a game plan."
When we spoke with Faith, she gave us an idea of what it's like driving Pullin' To Please: