Full Tilt Peterbilt—The Triple-Turbo, CAT-Powered 359 That Runs 10s

You haven’t seen a hot-rod semi until you’ve seen Dave Stewart’s homebuilt, ’81 Peterbilt. His old-iron day cab broke into the 10’s recently with a 10.94-second quarter-mile blast at 126 mph. Not bad for a 12,700-pound behemoth… Dave’s 359, coined “Full Tilt Peterbilt,” boasts a 3,000hp (and better than 4,000 lb-ft) CAT C15 under the hood. And believe it or not, the big Cat sports a “mostly stock bottom end.” A two-stage, triple-turbo arrangement (two 96mm BorgWarners blowing into a 106mm Garrett) produces 150-psi of boost, a water-to-air intercooler keeps intake temps cool (and calls for 30 pounds of ice per pass), and 10 pounds of N₂O (per pass) aid the effort. Dave runs the NHRDA circuit. Make sure and catch him racing there.

High-End Engine Tech

Billet Cummins Crankshafts

There’s been a major breakthrough in exotic Cummins engine technology, and Wagler Competition Products is behind it. The innovators from Odon, Indiana—in conjunction with Southern Illinois Crankshaft—have added billet crankshafts to their arsenal. The competition units feature a newly designed, taper-fit Fluidampr (i.e. no more 4-bolt damper) and are available in both lightweight form (for drag racing) and fully counterweighted configurations (for truck pulling). Competition, drag race-ready versions are believed to weigh in 20 to 25 pounds lighter than an OE crankshaft. With a factory Cummins crankshaft proven capable of living at 6,000 rpm (or more) and 3,000-plus hp, one has to wonder how much further these billet units will push the envelope.

Modified Classifieds

Historic Rolling Chassis For Sale

It was the first diesel vehicle to go 3’s in the eighth-mile. It set and then reset ODSS Pro Mod records multiple times. It remains one of the fastest and most consistent diesel door slammers ever assembled. And now it’s for sale by Firepunk Diesel in rolling chassis form. For $25,000 one of the most proven setups in all of diesel drag racing could be yours. The old Hot Shot’s Secret-sponsored S10 definitely left its mark on the industry—and the new owner could help write the truck’s next chapter. The truck is plug-and-play ready if you’re planning to run a Cummins/TH400 combination, and a 25.2 SFI chassis certification means it’s legal for 6.00 quarter-miles…

Diesel’s Versatility

Some Trucks Can Still Do It All

Many of us got into diesel trucks because they can do it all. Tow, haul, commute, drag race, and sled pull—all while knocking down respectable fuel economy. Better yet, they can handle the miles and abuse without forcing the owner to dig into the hard parts of the engine. Dustin Mintern’s 331,000-mile Silverado—a battle-tested Bow Tie packing a factory head bolt LBZ Duramax—traverses the country to drag race, hooks to the sled whenever he gets the itch, and even performs the occasional four-wheel drive burnout. Dustin is currently pursuing a second consecutive ODSS ET Bracket class championship with the truck in addition to being in the hunt for his first 7.70 Index title. It’s an 11-second-capable daily driver that can do everything well. We’ll find out how he finishes the 2025 ODSS season in three short weeks, at the Scheid Diesel Extravaganza.

Event Of The Year

SDX Schedule Released

The 29^th annual Scheid Diesel Extravaganza will commence the weekend of August 22-23, and the complete event schedule has been released. The gates at Wagler Motorsports Park open at 8 a.m. and daily activities don’t conclude until 1 a.m. both days (following the late-night shenanigans on the Wagler burnout pad). Hot Shot’s Secret-sponsored Pro Pulling League action takes place in the dirt each night at 6 p.m. By day, and because the Extravaganza marks the final stop for the Outlaw Diesel Super Series in 2025, high drama will likely play out on the drag strip. In between the eighth-mile and pulling surfaces, an expansive vendors midway will be present—along with the always-popular show ‘n shine and chassis dyno competitions. You can find the full schedule of events here.

How It Works

Torque Converter 101 With Goerend

Leave it to one of the most successful torque converter builders in the transmission game, Goerend Transmission, to educate the masses about fluid coupling. What is fluid coupling? In the real world, picture your truck stopped at a red light. With the transmission in gear and the engine idling, the impeller (within the converter, connected to the engine, and also known as the drive fan) spins so slowly that it cannot transfer enough oil to turn the turbine, the driven fan connected to the transmission’s input shaft. As you let off the foot brake and apply the throttle leaving the stoplight, engine speed rises and the impeller blows more oil at the turbine. The turbine then begins to turn and move the vehicle forward. Important note: the impeller will always spin faster than the turbine before lockup occurs. Follow Goerend on Facebook for more converter-related info you should know (or could use some brushing up on).

Written by Mike McGlothlin