Will This Billet Block 6.4L Reset The Fastest 4×4 Diesel Record?

One of the fastest 4×4 diesel trucks ever built—and “the” quickest Power Stroke powered 4×4 in existence—just eliminated its biggest weak link. In the past, pushing the frame-laying, tube-chassis F-250 deep into the 4’s through the eighth-mile often meant cracking blocks for the Rudy’s Performance Parts team. Not anymore. Starting with an aluminum crankcase from Warren Diesel Injection, Kill Devil Diesel worked its machining and finishing magic on an all-new, billet-aluminum block 6.4L for Rudy’s 2026 race program. Wagler rods, forged pistons, a KDD stage 3 cam, Jesel rocker arms, KDD’s new crank flange stud kit, and a set of its billet ICON series cylinder heads (complete with oversized valves and custom valve seat profiles) all made the cut on this exotic 8 cylinder billet bullet—and engine that just might be able to take a shot at the overall 4×4 diesel record… Stay tuned!

At The ‘Strip

Back In Business: Jelibuilt’s 1,500 HP 7.3L Power Stroke

Jelibuilt Performance’s next-level 7.3L race truck (known as “Ron Burgundy”) is back. This time, it’s packing a new HEUI-fired engine built by Kill Devil Diesel—complete with a CGI block and a bed plate from Hypermax Engineering. Now, owner Brian Jelich can finally take aim at the overall 4×4 7.3L Power Stroke eighth-mile record (Zack Pierce’s 5.13 at 136 mph) and do it with what he hopes is a more reliable power plant. If you recall, Brian’s 3,750-pound F-350 ran back-to-back 5.27’s last April at Rudy’s Spring Truck Jam, but it came at the expensive of cracking the factory-based, cast-iron 7.3L block. Look for him in the staging lanes at Diesel Truck Wars this coming weekend.

On The Dyno

1,024 HP On The Factory Turbo?

Sort of. Big fuel, coupled with a factory VVT/S480 compound arrangement—and in the ever-capable tuning hands of All In Truck Performance’s Aaron Wiebe—put this LML Duramax in four-digit horsepower territory on the chassis dyno last week. A built long-block from DHD, and Exergy Performance 100-percent over injectors and a 12mm CP3 played key roles in the 1,024-rwhp effort on the rollers, while the late-model HD’s built six-speed Allison took it like a champ. Considering how restrictive the factory Garrett VVT is (it boasts only a 60.6mm compressor wheel, a 62/70mm turbine and the shortest VGT vane height of any Duramax turbo ever offered), these numbers are pretty incredible.

Coming Soon

PHP’s New Medusa Interface For Hydra Chipped 7.3L’s

While many were wearing green and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day last week, Summit 7.3 attendees were BETA testing the new toy they received at the annual 7.3L Power Stroke gathering. The Medusa interface from Power Hungry Performance combines the company’s best-selling Hydra Chip with the use of an Edge Insight monitor. In simple terms, Medusa allows you to get rid of the Hydra Chip’s standard digital display box and plug right into your Insight—and then control your power levels via the Insight’s color touchscreen. With most 7.3L owners running a Hydra Chip in conjunction with an Edge Insight monitor, integrating the two makes perfect sense, and the pairing will (once again) revolutionize the 7.3L tuning segment. Check out DieselReview.com’s take on Medusa here.

Upcoming Event

Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS)

The Mid-America Trucking Show is coming up on March 26-28^th. That means custom show trucks courtesy of the 35^th annual PKY Truck Championship, the latest equipment and technology in trucking, the Big-Rig Build Off, and some of the baddest semi’s hooking to the sled inside Freedom Hall. Our friends at Hot Shot’s Secret will be open for business in Louisville, with booth #12036 offering live broadcasts of The Steve Sommers Overnight Drive, free education on the company’s wide array of lubricants and additives, a sign-up sheet for show-floor giveaways, and even an exclusive first look at Jeff Hirt’s freshly wrapped, Hot Shot’s Secret sponsored “Full Streak” modified pulling tractor.

Written by Mike McGlothlin