Christmas Carnage For A Pair Of Duramax-powered Hot Rods

When Wyatt Stengel got the win over Austin Wilson’s Cummins at Cleeter’s AWD Shootout back in October, he had no idea the collateral damage suffered in the victory would be so extensive. After tearing into the LB7 Duramax in his ’70 GMC K1500, Wyatt learned he hadn’t cracked the block as suspected, but instead suffered an extreme valvetrain failure. A valve stem broke away from its valve at the retainer, but in the melee it also fire-slotted through the valve and cylinder head, eventually even getting into the coolant jacket—which exploded the cooling system and ballooned the radiator. Luckily, Wyatt is determined to make the call for Sick Week (January 27 – February 1) and already has fresh SoCal Diesel heads and forged-aluminum Mahle pistons on the work bench, ready to go in.

Picking Up The Pieces Following A Wicked Nitrous Backfire

Nitrous backfires are never good, and if they’re bad enough they can cost you an engine. Following an ear-splitting example last month in Tennessee, Rick Fletes’ 8-second Duramax Chevelle began to haze a bit. With the LB7 under the knife, a damaged piston, bent valves, and even bent rods were discovered. A full rebuild is underway at Hardway Performance, the California-born muscle car’s Florida-based staging location for Sick Week 2025. Look for the infamous Duramax Chevelle to hit the ground running on Monday, January 27^th (Day Zero) at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

In The Dirt

Hot Shot’s Secret Becomes The Title Sponsor Of Pro Pulling League

From diesel drag racing (ODSS, NHRDA) to truck and tractor pulling (PPL), Hot Shot’s Secret is going to own diesel motorsports in 2025. The Mount Gilead, Ohio company, which has become a welcomed fixture at countless diesel events in recent years, will be the official title sponsor of the Pro Pulling League this coming season and beyond. The two entities are the perfect match, according to Hot Shot’s Secret director of field marketing and partnerships, Kyle Fischer. “Our products are engineered to perform under the toughest conditions, just like the vehicles in the Pro Pulling League.” The partnership also comes at a time when PPL prepares to celebrate its 20^th anniversary, with over 280 events on the docket for the coming year.

Now Hiring

Land Your Dream Job At DHD

They’ve come out on top at U.C.C., own an eighth-mile 4×4 Duramax record, have won multiple truck pulling championships, and are behind countless other high-horsepower trucks—and now you can build engines for them. That’s right, Dirty Hooker Diesel (DHD) is hiring. For the right, self-motivated individual, opportunity is knocking… You will be tasked with engine machining, reconditioning, and assembly, and be able to do it alongside some of the best in the industry. If you’re ready to advance your automotive career, get in DHD’s inbox ASAP. Serious candidates should send a resume to Evan@dirtyhookerdiesel.com.

Back In Time

25 Years Ago, GM Officially Revealed Its Plans To Build The 6.6L Duramax

Last week, we took a look back at the first time the 6.6L Duramax became public knowledge. A quarter century ago, on December 19, 1999, General Motors disclosed its plans to offer a brand-new, industry-changing diesel V-8—one that would bring aluminum cylinder heads, an induction-hardened block, high-pressure common-rail injection, 300 horsepower, and a true “commercial-grade” automatic transmission to the diesel pickup segment. It was an engine designed not just to compete with the 7.3L Power Stroke and 5.9L 24-valve ISB Cummins, but outperform them in every meaningful way. Go back in time with us and relive all the segment firsts the LB7 Duramax brought to the table right here.

Written by Mike McGlothlin