When we sat down to create the March '08 issue of Diesel Power one of the cover themes we bounced around was "vehicles that would be better with diesel engines". At the top of our list was a 6.7L Cummins-powered Dodge Viper. Basically we dreamed up a 1,000-plus-horsepower diesel sports car that could drive across the country, get 30 miles per gallon, and blast to more than 250 mph. Sort of an American-made Bugatti Veyron-killer. Our readers loved the idea, and you asked us to build one.
Well, we're still working out the details on that creation-anyone have a Viper they'd like to donate? But in the meantime what do you think about this?
It's a Dodge Ram 2500 SRT-6.7L concept designed by Murray Pfaff of Pfaff Photo Rendering & Design. The idea is simple. We leveraged the performance goals of the Viper V-10-powered '04-'06 Dodge Ram 1500 SRT-10 pickup, and made it diesel.
We began with an '08 Dodge Ram 2500 regular-cab 4x4. To keep it as light as possible, we spec'd a stripped-down model with the 6.7L Cummins and six-speed automatic transmission. We shortened the wheelbase to 120 inches, mounted a 6-foot bed, and lowered the suspension till it was sitting on the axles.
The rest was simple. We fit 16-inch diameter brakes, 22-inch forged-aluminum race wheels, and 325/50R22 Z-rated tires at all four corners. Did we mention that this truck would also have all-wheel drive?
It would be a nasty street machine with 3.42 axle gears and a 1,000hp compound-turbo Cummins fueled by dual CP3 pumps and three stages of nitrous. The all-wheel-drive conversion would allow for killer 0-60 times and 10-second quarter-mile passes. Local Corvettes and Mustangs would be terrified of this truck.
Based on the purchase price of a used diesel pickup, our SRT-6.7L Diesel concept is a lot more attainable than a diesel Viper. For all we know, one of you is building something like this right now. If you are, send us some photos.