TSD’s New Billet Bullet
Billet block engines, Rudy’s and U.C.C. prep, and a major breakthrough for 68RFE transmission technology.
Seeing engine combinations like this is becoming more and more common on the competition side of the diesel industry. Truck Source Diesel’s Chris Buhidar spent a few days on the engine dyno at Freedom Racing Engines last week, and this Fleece Performance Engineering billet-aluminum block and billet-aluminum Wagler head Cummins is part of his plan to chase two (2) points championships in the near future. After breaking in the polished work of art, a hot re-torque was performed on the head, followed by some test hits. Then, with a plenty of invaluable data gathered, Chris loaded up and headed back to Texas. Rumor has it this billet engine will power an IFS-equipped, tube chassis ’20-’22 Super Duty…
More 3,000+ HP Bling
Justin Zeigler Is Gunning For 4.30s
When you want to own the fastest 4×4 diesel truck in the world, it’s got to be light and extremely powerful. Justin Zeigler figured the power side out this spring with a billet-aluminum block and head, CX series Cummins from Wagler Competition Products. In 2025, Justin’s ’06 Dodge will be equipped with this engine, a water-to-air intercooler, and an Exergy Performance fuel system that incorporates dual high-speed Alpha 550 CP3’s. Firepunk Diesel’s Aaron Zieg is credited with the top-notch fabrication work on Justin’s storied (and once Firepunk-owned) ride. The truck is also well under 4,000 pounds now. Look for Justin at Rudy’s Spring Truck Jam this weekend. He’ll be there running in the new ODSS Super Diesel category.
Crazyhorse Coming To War In The Woods
Nathan Wheeler’s Cummins-powered no-prep Ford is coming to Indiana the weekend of U.C.C., but it won’t be in Indy. On May 30 and 31st his D&J-powered Super Duty will be lighting up the back half of Brown County Dragway an hour south of there. For the first time, it looks like a 4×4 diesel will be allowed to compete in the small tire/AWD category at this epic event (and venue). With 5.0x’s reportedly needed in order to win, Nathan knows he and Crazyhorse have their work cut out for them (as well as the track’s short shutdown area)—but that won’t keep Nathan from coming. It might just be the biggest turnout War In The Woods has seen to date.
A Tale Of Two Very Fast Fords
It’s beginning to look like race season at the Denny residence. Austin Denny’s duo of cutting-edge 6.0L Power Strokes are ready to hit the track, starting with Rudy’s this weekend and followed shortly thereafter by U.C.C./Outlaw Diesel Revenge. The Super Duty shown will be tried in the Outlaw Diesel Super Series’ newly created Pro Truck class, while the featherweight Lightning parked next to it has the potential to light up quicker racing categories. Between these two trucks and the U.C.C. ride that Warren Diesel is piecing together, 2025 could be a very big year for the 6.0L Power Stroke.
Transmission Tech
New Bolt-Together Converter For The 68RFE
This is what happens when you combine the talents of a 78-year-old juggernaut of a transmission company with a high-energy, young-gun operation that’s always searching for improvement. Goerend Transmission and WP Developments have teamed up for an industry first: a full competition, bolt-together torque converter for the 68RFE platform. The innovative, race-ready converter boasts an extreme duty clutch stack for big holding power and also makes use of a proprietary snap ring turbine seal retaining system for unmatched reliability in a racing application. It’s yet another way the folks at WP Developments have striven to make the 68RFE a viable competition transmission.
Written by Mike McGlothlin
