Are we losing the diesel wars?

[Jeepmullet]

I'm talking about as far as all around capability. I've been reading on thedieselplace.com about different GMC stuff and am just wondering about a couple things:



What would it take for my truck to get into the 12's in the quarter?



How much does it cost if a GMC diesel guy blows up his engine and has to have a rebuilt engine?



Why do so many of those guys over there post their numbers using spray?



I know we have cams, pistons, and other internal mods available for our trucks. Do they also have those mods readily available?



I'm just looking for some general observations or other information. It's disheartening reading that site, although I realize if you read this site you'd never buy either of the other two.

 

[Grizzly]

Best advise is to stick with Cummins and don't bother with any thing else or other web sites. TDR, that's where it's at.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Best advise is to stick with Cummins and don't bother with any thing else or other web sites. TDR, that's where it's at.

Is this not just a little closeminded?



I need to get the timet o read up on how a durmaxi does get up to 700+ hp at 1500foot#. proly with NOS. the mechanics of a twin setups just seems difficult and expensive.

 

[Giachino]

It's cyclical... . all of the beg 3 leapfrog each other periodocially..... unless you loaded$$$$, there's no way to keep up.....



Enjoy what you have and make the most of it... there will always be someone that's got a faster truck, a newer truck, a cooler truck... . no matter who you are... .



I pulled in to get gas today, and right next to me was a brand new, lifted, 35" tires, LBZ with the new towing mirrors..... I told the guy nice truck, becasue it was... .

 

[CHolman]

Well since GMC is IZUZU, what's cheaper to fix? American built cars, or Japanese cars? Look at the Cummins and then the Dradud and powerjoke, I couldn't imagine even trying to work on one... What a mess... The cummins is a stright forward simple design. I'm sorry, but simplicity is key to me. A Cummins will last, do you really think all that other crap will last on the other trucks? I wouldn't worry about the quarter, I would just kick back and enjoy your truck. One of these days when your driving down the road and you pass a newer Ford or Chevy and your still chuggin along, that's when you'll be glad that you have your Cummins.

 

[nps]

Seems like you define "all around capability" as running down the strip.



I'll take my Cummins for running stoplight to stoplight and then hook up to 10K pounds and pull it up a mountain. That's all around capability.



I doubt those other brands pulling numbers in the 12's can even pull a john boat up a hill without melting a piston or two.

 

[GO 4LO]

There isn't as much in terms of internals out there for the Dmaxes yet. However, a lot of the popular inexpensive upgrades for the CTD are from the marine version. Dmaxes, as far as I know, don't have a marine version from which to steal pistons or injectors. The CTD has also been around a bit longer than the Dmax has, so that helps us too.

They often use nitrous because very few twin setups exist for them yet. Plus there's a lot less extra space underhood to be setting extra turbos up. IMO, though, oxygen is oxygen, whether you're compressing extra air or injecting nitrous to get it...

 

[Rman]

GO 4LO, stopping to fill up your air supply sure isn't any fun either. Twins are a little more streetable than nitrous is.



I was reading about a new gas engine that audi is designing. Twins turbo's and putting up 350 hp with excellent (for the class) fuel economy. Pretty cool stuff... for a gasser!

 

[JasonCzerak]

GO 4LO, stopping to fill up your air supply sure isn't any fun either. Twins are a little more streetable than nitrous is.



I was reading about a new gas engine that audi is designing. Twins turbo's and putting up 350 hp with excellent (for the class) fuel economy. Pretty cool stuff... for a gasser!

I've always looked at Nitrous as that "Ohhh crap, he's faster then I thought" insurance. . never as something to rely on day to day for a street car...



drag car. sure. it's predicable when your going to need it.

 

[Grizzly]

Is this not just a little closeminded?



I need to get the timet o read up on how a durmaxi does get up to 700+ hp at 1500foot#. proly with NOS. the mechanics of a twin setups just seems difficult and expensive.

Your right, it is closed minded, but then again, I'm very satisfied with what I have.

 

[GO 4LO]

GO 4LO, stopping to fill up your air supply sure isn't any fun either. Twins are a little more streetable than nitrous is.

True, but I don't think the Duramax is going to care about stopping to refill nitrous if he uses it up smoking CTD's on the highway??



Chris

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

NOX is the "Im cheap and want it now ricer mentality" speed/power fix.



Power numbers mean nothing to me if they are drugged (propane, NOX).



Now if they can do it with straight ol #2..... good for them. Because it takes some thinking and planning to get good power out of an engine..... and still be able to tow with it.



If you just want flat out straightline power... go get a SRT-10 or a musclecar.

 

[Wayne M.]

I've been sitting back, watching this Diesel performance thing expand, I've been reading "Diesel Power". The recent wave of mods- especially Nitrous- shows who's doing what. It was only a matter of time when the GM (read "car") guys got involved in diesel trucks. Until now, bombing was done in a true Diesel Mechanic's mind practicing things learned over many years "big truck style". Many performance people TDR people know cut their teeth in diesel fuel. Do the old standby's use nitrous? Propane, maybe but I don't think nitrous. Now that GM is involved, you'll see that all the Gasser companies (hypertech, etc. ) are jumping in and you'll see that they will apply what they know.

I've been a "Cummins" guy and around the TDR since 1996, and working on heavy equipment since 1990. I am also a Drag Racer and muscle car guy since 1986. I am a traditional guy and hate the ricer movment as I know it.

The CTD represents a true "truckers" truck. A real piece of equipment, some real IRON! Everything else is JUNK. OK, the Ford has decent chassis and cab combos, but that's it.

Guys who buy a CTD- especially the older ones, have an appreciation for mechanical things. When they hit the key, they know what they bought- especially the mechanical engines!

I wouldn't think of using Nitrous in my Duster- not a chance, I'll build a stronger engine first.

Like they say at the track- "Bottles are for Babies" and "all throttle, no Bottle"



What's the element in the Diesel War? Who's fighting? Will you jump ship if some other dude is making more power than you?

 

[JoshPeters]

Well the longevity of the Duramax... . isn't exactly dura when they get heavily bombed.



People say to "watch out for them" cause they have hit some pretty good numbers...



Then you read about guys hitting the 700hp mark... . and tearing the crank bosses out of the block.



Yup that sounds like a great engine to me.



Josh

 

[CATCRACKER]

one big disadvantage is that the allison and torqueshift trannys put 400hp to the ground much better than the 48re this is where most people are with a big chip so for 95% of modded diesels the fords and chevys will be faster also add to this the dodge is heavier. now as far as top hp the dodge is still in the lead once we get our little cp3 to flow some more fuel we will start pulling ahead of everyone even the 12v's w/ race pumps. there will be alot of 800hp 3rd gen dodges with single turbos, race cp3, and a little nitro. this is where the duramaxs are and they had a 3 year head start with the common rail... oh yea by the way we will not be tearing up our bottoms end like some chevy's have. so no dodge is still the leader as long as they have the cummins. our problem is the weak 48re (much better than the 47re, but still not as good as the other two mentioned)

 

[raychem]

now as far as top hp the dodge is still in the lead once we get our little cp3 to flow some more fuel we will start pulling ahead of everyone even the 12v's w/ race pumps. there will be alot of 800hp 3rd gen dodges with single turbos, race cp3, and a little nitro. this is where the duramaxs are and they had a 3 year head start with the common rail... oh yea by the way we will not be tearing up our bottoms end like some chevy's have. so no dodge is still the leader as long as they have the cummins. our problem is the weak 48re (much better than the 47re, but still not as good as the other two mentioned)

I agree CAT, once we get the cp3's online we should put down some incredible numbers. I am watching the cp3 threads and want to be at 800 hp some day. As for the trannies, I love the 48re and the 47re. A simple 727 tourque flight trans thats bee around since the 60's and once it is modded it is what makes these trucks so fun. The faster trucks run the ford e4od since they have better gear ratios but hp can make up for it .





Richard

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I reckon it depends on which "war" you are into.



Posting pragmatically meaningless numbers or having a simpler, economic, more reliable, easier to work on engine that will get you down the road hauling whatever you need hauled. That's my reasons for owning a DC CTD.

 

[Wayne M.]

one big disadvantage is that the allison and torqueshift trannys put 400hp to the ground much better than the 48re... ... our problem is the weak 48re (much better than the 47re, but still not as good as the other two mentioned)

Can you explain more?

I don't know why so many people slam this transmission. This unit is based on legendary Chrysler torqueflite technology. By this I mean that they ARE garbage as built from the factory, but once gone through, I think they do pretty well. They do very well in high HP automotive apps.

I don't know much about the Allison 1000- other than it's not anything like the "real" MT's, HT's and world series that I'm used to dealing with. I hear nothing but bad things about the Ford unit in the real world.

 

[GO 4LO]

NOX is the "Im cheap and want it now ricer mentality" speed/power fix.



Power numbers mean nothing to me if they are drugged (propane, NOX).



Now if they can do it with straight ol #2..... good for them. Because it takes some thinking and planning to get good power out of an engine..... and still be able to tow with it.



If you just want flat out straightline power... go get a SRT-10 or a musclecar.

Surely you aren't implying that big numbers with nitrous don't require tuning? Good nitrous systems are neither cheap nor easy to set up. Regarding the line of thinking that nitrous is unfair and only for ricers, I guess it's just personal opinion. Power is power, in my opinion - run whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough .



Chris

 

[Wayne M.]

"I guess it's just personal opinion. Power is power, in my opinion - run whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough . "



It'll never be enough when the bottle is in the back of the bed with the valve off, and you need it when?

I've seen too many good engines destroyed by nitrous, even ones carefully tuned (fuel enrichment ckt. usually goes bad and engine leans out). I hear it's even more potent in Diesel apps. than when used with Gasoline.

Maybe that's why I see ROSS is coming out with Diesel engine pistons.