August 2008 - Cover September 2008
Taking The Best And Leaving The Rest
Scott Countryman's Cummins-Powered, Allison-shifted Ford Super Duty shows the resourcefulness of today's turbodiesel enthusiast. This truck is a combination of the best parts from each of the Big Three. The 5.9L Cummins is a great platform to modify for making lots of power because of the rugged factory components, as well as the broad selection of aftermarket parts. It is the small-block Chevy of the diesel world. On the dyno Scott made 1,420 lb-ft of torque, and on the track he ran a 12.61-second quarter-mile. The Allison automatic transmission is the most coveted, while the Ford body is the best-selling. Scott is a machinist by trade, and made his own adapters and created his own stand-alone Allison computer.
August 2008
Utilitarian Barbarian: Mopar's Latest Military Vehicle
Many people in the U.S. have dreamed of a small displacement diesel engine in a Jeep with a Dana 60 rear axle. Most have given up, thinking it was impossible-a utopian off-road scheme too perfect for this world. Mopar's Underground design team has not lost the faith however, and is actually paying in blood, sweat, and possibly tears in order to make it reality. This Jeep, based on a production vehicle designed for the Egyptian military, is called the J8 Sarge. It was built using parts from a Wrangler and a J8 military vehicle. The 2.8L VM Motori common-rail diesel is turbocharged, intercooled, and rated at 158 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. With no emissions, comfort, or safety equipment to get in the way, this Jeep is the perfect utility vehicle.
August 2008
4BT Ranger Swap
Fifteen-and-a-half-year-old Matt Conrad of Okeana, Ohio, started this project with a daydream, rendered a design in study hall, and finished it with a real, functional, great looking truck. The Ranger features show-stopping airbrush paint and a custom front bumper. This featured vehicle shows the willingness people are putting forward in order to get a small diesel-powered pickup. Diesel Rangers are sold all over the world. Why not here?
June 2008
Pocket Rocket
Broadening Diesel Power To Include Cars
Let's look at the numbers: 318 hp and 493 lb-ft of torque at the front wheels from only 1.9 liters of displacement. This '02 Volkswagen Jetta TDI weighs a measly 2,950 pounds, so it handles curves, stops in no time, and gets 43-46 mpg. This car belongs to Tom Calvert, owner of Illinois Dyno Center, and it runs the quarter-mile in the high 14's at 100 mph. Modifications include oil-cooled pistons from Germany, an intercooler sourced from a Mustang supercharger kit, NX nitrous system, a ported cylinder head, ARP studs, and an 11mm injecton pump with a 12mm head. In the process of pushing his car to the limit, Tom bent all four of his connecting rods due to too much propane and high boost pressures.