Diesel Power Challenge-Winning Truck
Consistency is the key to winning the Diesel Power Challenge. You need to have a plan and understand that in order to win, you have to place in the top three in each event. Not only would we practice prior to the event, we'd test our combination at Rocky Mountain Raceways.
Our ideal candidate to win the Diesel Power Challenge would be an '03-'06 Dodge Ram 3500 four-door dualie four-wheel drive. Our dyno-winning torque plan would begin with a 6.7L long-block, and then we would add dual CP3 injection pumps, Super Dragon Flow injectors, PhatShaft Racing Compound turbos, head studs, an MLS head gasket, multi-stage nitrous injection to allow us to dial in our combination for high altitude, propane (which would help us win the fuel economy run), a pressure box, and custom tuning. An air-to-water intercooler with an ice chest in the rear would provide better turbo spool up compared to an air-to-air intercooler. Most importantly, we wouldn't make any last minute changes to our truck right before the event. This is how people blow their trucks up.
And, being that we would want as much weight up front as possible, we'd go with a heavy winch bumper with a Warn 16.5ti winch that would act like hanging weight in the sled pull and trailer tow, but wouldn't hurt in the drag race. For maximum traction, we'd go with an ARB Air Locker up front, and an All Season Service spool in the rear, along with 3.73 axle gears. Traction would be accomplished using 285/70R17 all-terrain tires in all six positions.
Diesel Power Challenge Winner
Truck: '03-'06 Dodge Ram 3500 dualie
Engine: 6.7L Cummins
Performance modifications: 6.7L long-block, dual CP3 pumps, Super Dragon Flow injectors, PhatShaft Racing Compound turbos, head studs, MLS head gasket, multi-stage nitrous injection, propane, a pressure box, custom tuning
Estimated HP: 1,000 hp
Transmission: 48RE
Transfer case: NV 273
Front axle: AAM 925, ARB Air Locker, 3.73 gears
Rear Axle: AAM 1150, All Season Service spool
Suspension: Bilstein shocks, rear traction bars, rear air springs
Tires: 285/70R17 all-terrain tires
Wheels: Stock 17-inch aluminum
Chassis modifications: Heavy winch bumper with Warn 16.5ti winch
Body Modifications: Bright paint that would look good on the cover of the magazine
Why it will work: Built for all-around performance, propane injection for mileage, 6.7L engine for peak torque, and tuned at Rocky Mountain Raceways by a previous Diesel Power Challenge winner (Michael Tomac, Chris Werner, or Nick D'Amico)