HEADLINES: New 1/8-Mile Record For The 68RFE

How do you know you’re over the mark? When you set a record without even trying to. Last week, during a private test session at Muncie Dragway, the guys from WP Developments were looking to make a few hits through the ‘330 to gather further data for their full manual valve body 68RFE program. For grins, the team made a 660-foot pass and ended up setting a new 68RFE record—and their test mule Ram did it while running the lowest horsepower tune in WP’s arsenal. So now the real question: how much higher will they raise the 68RFE bar when they’re actually trying to run an all-out eighth-mile pass?

Truck Pulling

Flam-A-Bull…Coming Soon

If you’ve heard of Ryan DeBroux you know the Playin’ With Fire name—the common-rail converted, Cat-powered Kenworth W900L that runs the NTPA Super Semi class (more on this 4,000hp monstrosity here). With Ryan’s son, Marshall, recently turning 16 and taking a big interest in truck and tractor pulling, the DeBroux’s are building a Super Stock 4×4 diesel truck for the young buck to drive. In keeping with the family’s fire-themed vehicles, the new build will be coined “Flam-a-Bull” and, while a debut date for the truck is yet to be set, it’s expected to be done in time to compete for the majority of the NTPA season. We can’t wait to see it.

Modified Classifieds

The Ultimate Excursion

Need an Excursion that can go anywhere and do anything? Stroke Works Diesel Specialties—the same shop that built an 11-second, 6.4L-powered Excursion—has this ultimate adventure-style ’03 up for grabs. The ’03 XLT trim ‘Ex sports a bulletproofed 6.0L Power Stroke, complete with ARP head studs, a recently serviced factory 5R1110W TorqShift transmission, and that sits on 2011 F-550 axles (front Dana Super 60, rear Dana S135 that’s been moved 2-inches rearward). The Excursion is lifted roughly 9-inches, is fitted with an ‘05+ style front coil spring and radius arm suspension, boasts PSC ram assist steering, and One Up Offroad traction bars. It’s also rocking a 44×19.5×20-inch Super Swamper bogger (mounted on a 20×14 Stazworks double bead lock wheel) at each corner. It’s listed for $19,500.

Engine Tech

Cylinder Pressure Monitoring At D&J

Independent cylinder pressure monitoring has been on the to-do list at D&J Precision Machine for 10 years, and now it’s finally a reality. This is the kind of technology that allows engine builders to find the exact limits of their engines, along with squeezing every last ounce of horsepower out of them. So, with 3,500hp capability (and more) already possible thanks to its Enforcer and Executioner engines, just think how much further D&J will be able to push the envelope now… Look for the billet-aluminum Executioner Cummins in Firepunk’s Pro Mod Duster to benefit from D&J’s new toolset immediately.

OEM

Ford: The Undisputed King Of Vehicle Production In 2023

After building more than 1.8 million new vehicles in calendar year 2023 (130,000 more than any other automaker), Ford is celebrating the number 1 spot in vehicles assembled. That 1.8 million figure includes its best-selling F-series trucks (gas and diesel-powered, as well as hybrid and electric), all of which are either assembled in Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, or Ohio. Additionally, Ford led all automakers in total exports with 260,000 (including F-150s, Broncos, and Mustangs), and topped all others in most hourly autoworkers with 57,000. Did you know that more than 79-percent of the vehicles Ford sells in the U.S. are assembled right here at home? That’s higher than any other manufacturer.

Written by Mike McGlothlin