2008 was a great year for Diesel Power. Diesels are the new muscle cars, and their fan base is growing. Sure, diesel still has its original backers like the trucking and agriculture industries, but even environmentalists have done an about-face for diesels and are scrambling aboard.
At the grassroots-diesel level we have drag racers, sled pullers, penny-pinching commuters, and off-roaders. The big shots manning the bridge include the military, construction outfits, and the U.S. Department of Energy. The DOE has called this movement The Dieselization of America. This outlook of optimism has our eyes strained trying to see all the great things just around the corner, including small displacement diesel engines for 1/2-ton trucks and cars, cutting-edge technology, and new aftermarket performance parts. This is all great, but sometimes it is important to look in your rearview and see where you've been.
That's what this list is all about. We've selected the most influential and inspirational Diesel Power vehicles we featured this year. It's interesting to note, many of the vehicles did not come with diesel engines from the factory, but thanks to ingenuity, they do now.
October 2008
Big Bad Dodge
Scott Vorhees' Big Bad Dodge started out as a Ford named the Big Bad Diesel. The truck's tube chassis was built by Steve Barker and the Cummins engine has been dyno'd at 1,800 hp. This is possible thanks to two turbos-an S-400 over an HC5A, together providing 150 psi of boost. Whether it's the 1,700-pound weight box, or the specially designed, gear-driven Magnaflow fuel pump, every part of this truck is top-notch. In addition to being one of the nicest pullers out there, it is one of the safest too-with air and fuel shutoffs, driveshaft loops, a blow-proof bellhousing, an onbard Halon fire suppression system, an engine kill switch, and turbo shielding.
February 2008
Clean Speed: Inside The World's Quickest Diesel Pickup
The Gale Banks S-10 Sidewinder drag truck was meticulously crafted to produce speed and no smoke. This is the world's quickest diesel pickup. Back in February, with Wes Anderson behind the wheel, it ran the quarter-mile in 8.21 seconds at 165 mph. Recently, Banks broke his old record with a high 7-second pass. The sound this diesel makes is amazing. The Duramax diesel engine features twin parallel Garrett TR30R turbos, ported heads, a NASCAR-styled valvetrain, and a single CP3 injection pump. Bosch injectors and a prototype ECU create the conditions for maximum power and efficiency. Don Ness built the Pro Stock Chevy S-10 full-tube chassis and unique swingarm rear suspension. The S-10's cab and bed are steel, however the doors and lift-off front end are made from fiberglass. To save weight, the Lamb struts have titanium springs and the wheel tubs are made from carbon fiber.