Here Come The ZF 8-Speed Swaps
The first ZF 8-speed conversion kit for late-model Rams, uncrackable 6.0L heads, another big payday in diesel racing, and proof that additives add horsepower.
ATS Diesel Performance is closing in on bringing the first ZF 8-speed swap to market for ’24-older Rams. In a video released last week, ATS owner, Clint Cannon, revealed the Arvada, Colorado company was in the final stages of developing a new-age transmission swap solution for late-model Cummins owners. According to Cannon, they have a way to control the new 8-speed automatic, so the electronics side is ready to go. Now it’s just a matter of finishing up the adapter plate required to make the conversion a reality. “I promise you; we will be the first in the industry to release the 8AP behind a ’24-older Ram truck—and it is going to be awesome,” Cannon said.
Engine Tech
KDD’s Recipe For Reliability
Need proof that Kill Devil Diesel’s 6.0L heads are the ultimate fix for cracked heads and blown head gaskets? When the North Carolina engine builder pulled these off a customer’s 6.0L that came in for bottom end work, they checked out perfect, despite being in service for the past six years (and more than 100,000 miles). No cracks, perfect deck surface, no wear concerns, crisp, clean valve seats, and O-rings in great shape. Kill Devil’s recipe for reliability begins with a heavy-duty casting that features higher nickel content, a thicker deck surface, and hardened alloy valve seat inserts to guard against cracking. Then the company goes above and beyond by integrating O-rings on every cylinder head it builds to eliminate any chance of head gasket issues. This set was resurfaced, reassembled, and put right back into service.
Secret Sauce: 20+ HP Gains On A Tune-Only 5.9L
No snake oil here. Just some good, old-fashioned proven horsepower gains made on the chassis dyno at Firepunk. With an employee’s recently-acquired, tune-only (otherwise bone-stock) ’06 Dodge Ram 2500 strapped to the rollers, the 5.9L Cummins-powered third-gen picked up 20 hp at the wheels over the initial baseline number (from 491-rwhp to 511-rwhp). What changed? The addition of Hot Shot’s Secret’s FR3 Friction Reducer to the crankcase and Adrenaline R82+ to the fuel tank. That’s it—and it was enough to push the truck over the 500hp mark with very little invested. Hint: most tune-only diesel trucks gain 10 to 12 hp with FR3 alone.
At The ‘Strip
1 Event, Points Earned In 2 Racing Organizations
Never before in the history of diesel drag racing have two of the biggest sanctioning bodies been so closely aligned. Not only have the Outlaw Diesel Super Series (ODSS) and National Hot Rod Diesel Association (NHRDA) adapted their class rules to essentially mirror each other in 2026, but now these two juggernauts are coming together to offer the first-ever points crossover event. It’s all going down at the Ultimate Callout Challenge on June 5-6th, where racers will be awarded points for each series separately based on how they finish. Additionally, the 6.70 Index and 7.70 Index classes will feature a 32-truck field as opposed to the old, 16-vehicle format. Much more to come, so make sure you’re in Indianapolis the first weekend of June!
Drag Racing For The Average Joe (But With $20K On The Line!)
And the (welcomed) hits just keep on coming. On the heels of the $100,000 Seventy 2 Fast race, the NHRDA has come up with a daily driver-style 1/8-mile racing category for the average Joe diesel owner. Within it, $20,000 will be up for grabs, and it will follow a single-elimination (no buy-backs), heads-up (instant green start), no-time format, with key rules dictating 2WD only (4×4’s will have to pull the front driveshaft), a 7,000-pound minimum, single turbo, and no drag radials or slicks. It’s called the Blue Collar No Prep Street Diesel Truck Class and it’s designed to reward quick-spooling combinations and bring a big payout to the 650-750hp crowd. It debuts February 27-28th at the NHRDA’s Diesels In The Desert event.
Written by Mike McGlothlin
