For some of us, the best you can do is simply just not good enough. After Rob Fante did arguably everything he could to get 700 hp out of his '04 6.0L Power Stroke, he cashed it in for the ultimate Super Duty-one with a Cummins under the hood. "Even with head studs, I just couldn't keep it from lifting the heads, I'd never make the power I wanted with the Power Stroke, and everyone says the ultimate truck is a Ford with a Cummins," said Rob.
He started with an '05 common-rail 5.9L and 48RE transmission from a donor Dodge, and being an engineer by trade, Rob wasted no time getting to work on the swap. He first contacted FTE Diesel for a free education on how to get the most out of the Cummins mill. Then he consulted Bean's Diesel Performance, a shop that specializes in Cummins conversions, and purchased a set of DeStroked motor mounts for the common-rail. Next, he began executing his plan for power.
Rob turned to Hamiliton Cams for some internal engine components and installed a set of heavy-duty valve springs and billet pushrods. For fuel, he went with a 150-gph FASS fuel system, which feeds a custom-painted and polished chrome Dragon Slayer CP3 injection pump, and six 5x10.5 injectors from Wicked Diesel. A Competition 66 turbo from High Tech Turbo and a CFM Plus intake horn handle the common-rail's air inhalation.
A flipped second-gen exhaust manifold, which was chromed and heat coated by Exotic Coatings, sends exhaust through the High Tech Turbo charger, and ultimately out dual 6-inch MBRP stacks. Rob dials the truck in with Smarty TNT/R programming and an MP8 pressure box. Keeping EGTs down is a Stage 2 water-methanol system from Snow Performance, which, with a 7-gallon tank, leaves plenty of water on tap for optimum cooling.
 Clearly, Rob didn't miss a...  Clearly, Rob didn't miss a thing with this conversion. An immaculate engine compartment exists under the hood, thanks to a powdercoated valve cover courtesy of Exotic Coatings in Romulus, Michigan. Future plans for the truck include adding a set of twin turbos, making 750 hp on fuel, and 900 hp with the aid of nitrous. |  According to Rob, the High...  According to Rob, the High Tech Turbo Competition 66 (66mm inducer) pushes 60 psi of boost on the street. The polished chrome compressor housing sets the engine bay off, and the 16cm exhaust housing is made out of stainless steel. |  With the help of FTE Diesel,...  With the help of FTE Diesel, Bean's Diesel Performance, DeStroked, ATS, High Tech Turbo, and Wicked Diesel, Rob has built the kind of Super Duty most of us can only dream about. He told us the truck's biggest fan is his four-year-old daughter, Jozelyn, who always wants him to make the big, blue Ford smoke. |