Reality Trucks

Published in the October 2008 Issue October 2008 Column

FREE SUBSCRIPTION: This is becoming one of our favorite sections. Real trucks, purpose-built on a paycheck budget. If you'd like to submit your truck for Reality Trucks, send your name, hometown and state and description of your truck, along with high-resolution photos, to dteditor@dieseltechmag.com. Remember, if your truck is published, you get a free one-year subscription to Diesel Tech.

LANE LINDSEY
CASPER, WY

LOOKING FOR A TRUCK THAT CAN FINISH JUST ABOUT ANY JOB? WELL, HERE IT IS: A 2008 F350 6.4L POWER STROKE DUALLY READY TO WORK. FIRST OFF, LINDSEY SWAPPED IN THE F450 FRONT-END AND SOME 4:30 GEARS ALONG WITH A 6-INCH PRO-COMP RADIUS ARM LIFT AND MX6 ADJUSTABLE RESERVOIR SHOCKS. A SET OF 37X13.50R22 TOYO M/TS ARE MOUNTED ON ALCOA 22-INCH 10-LUG SEMI WHEELS. THE TRUCK IS OUTFITTED WITH A BUCKSTOP FRONT BUMPER WHICH HOUSES A 16,500-LB. WARN WINCH AND THERE'S A RESSE 15,000-LB. FIFTH-WHEEL HITCH IN THE BED. THE TRUCK IS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A RAM AIR HOOD. POWER IMPROVEMENTS WILL COME FROM A SPARTAN DIESEL DASH DAQ CHIP AND A MAGNAFLOW 5-INCH EXHAUST SYSTEM.

 

JASON BUHLER
GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB, CANADA

TURNS OUT THEY BUILD THEM TOUGH IN CANADA. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT CHECK OUT THIS DURAMAX, WHICH SITS ON A 6-INCH FABTECH LIFT AND 37X13.50R20 TOYO M/TS WRAPPED AROUND 20-INCH TEZZEN WHEELS. OTHER AFTERMARKET INSTALLS INCLUDE A ROAD ARMOR BUMPER, REFLEX SPRAY-IN LINER, TRUXEDO TONNEAU COVER, REMOTE LOCKING TAILGATE, NU IMAGE INSTRUMENT PANEL, BRUSHED NICKEL DASH KIT, PIAA LIGHTS, AND A 34-GALLON AUXILIARY FUEL TANK. THERE IS AN AFE INTAKE UNDER THE HOOD AND A SET OF AUTOMETER ES GAUGES ARE ON ORDER. BUHLER ALSO PLANS TO ADD A DIABLO SPORT TUNER AND A 5-INCH EXHAUST SYSTEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

 

STEVE ATKINS
HOMEDALE, ID

ONE PIECE AT A TIME, ATKINS HAS TURNED THIS 2004.5 GMC 2500HD LLY DURAMAX INTO ONE OF THE NICEST TRUCKS WE'VE HAD SUBMITTED TO DIESEL TECH. WITH 4-INCH MBRP COOL DUAL EXHAUST, AN EGR BLOCKER PLATE, FULL SET OF ISSPRO GAUGES, 1/2-INCH FUEL FILTER SPACER, MAG HYTECH DIFFERENTIAL COVER, CCV MOD, KENNEDY DIESEL LIFT PUMP AND EFI LIVE TUNING, THE TRUCK HAS DYNOED A BEST OF 439 HP AND 887 FT. LBS. OF TORQUE. ATKINS ALSO ADDED A SET OF '06 GM TOWING MIRRORS, ATS BILLET TIE ROD SLEEVES AND COGNITO BRACES TO HELP PLANT THE POWER AT THE TRACK.

 

MATT SCRUGGS
LYNCHBURG, TN

DIESEL TRUCKS WERE BUILT TO WORK AND TOWING HEAVY, LOADED TRAILERS IS THIS FORD'S SPECIALTY. WITH A 7.3L POWER STROKE UNDER THE HOOD AND A SET OF SWAMPS DIESEL 175/173 INJECTORS, REGULATED FUEL RETURN, DP TUNER F5 CHIP, TURBONETICS BB TURBO, TERMINATOR SCAN GAUGE, 4-INCH EXHAUST AND A BUILT SUNCOAST TRANSMISSION OUTFITTED WITH A PRECISION INDUSTRIES TORQUE CONVERTER, IT'LL TOW JUST ABOUT ANY LOAD WITH EASE. SCRUGGS BUILT THE TWIN FILTER INTAKE, FRONT BUMPER, TRACTION BARS AND HEADACHE RACK, WHICH WE ADMIT LOOK PRETTY DANG GOOD. SCRUGGS ALSO TOLD US THAT A COMMON RAIL 5.9L CUMMINS SWAP IS ALSO ALREADY UNDERWAY.

 

TYLER SPETH
HYRUM, UT

THIS 2002 DODGE CUMMINS 5.9L CAME FROM THE FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH A 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION AND NOT MUCH ELSE. SINCE THEN, SPETH HAS UPGRADED THE TRUCK WITH A SET OF 17-INCH WHEELS OFF A NEWER '05 RAM WRAPPED IN 285-70R17 MASTERCRAFT A/TS. ADDED POWER COMES FROM AN EDGE JUICE WITH ATTITUDE MONITOR, FASS HPFP 150 PUMP, STRAIGHT PIPED FACTORY EXHAUST AND A CUSTOM BUILT INTAKE MADE FROM PARTS HE PICKED UP AT THE LOCAL PARTS HOUSE. THE TRUCK IS A DAILY DRIVER AND TOWS FREQUENTLY. SPETH SAID A 4-INCH EXHAUST SYSTEM, SOME LARGER INJECTORS AND A SMARTY BOX ARE NEXT ON THE LIST OF THINGS TO DO.

 

MARTY WHITEMAN
NORTH EAST, MD

THIS 2001 PLATINUM EDITION 7.3L POWER STROKE HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH SOME GROWING PAINS. AFTER THE ORIGINAL MOTOR GAVE UP, WHITEMAN INSTALLED THE ENGINE FROM A '97 POWER STROKE, WHICH WAS BACKED UP WITH A BTS FULL BUILT TRANSMISSION. SOME STAGE III HYBRID INJECTORS, A TURBONETICS BALL BEARING TURBO, DIY INTAKE AND FUEL SYSTEM AND A DP TUNER F5 CHIP AND A 5-INCH MITER-CUT SINGLE STACK SUPPLY THE HORSEPOWER. SUPPORTING MODS FOR THOSE PARTS CONSIST OF H11 HEAD STUDS, CHROMOLY PUSHRODS AND 910 COMP VALVE SPRINGS. THE TRUCK IS SITTING ON 285/75R16S AND STOCK WHEELS. THE TRUCK IS A DAILY DRIVER AND CAN BE SEEN JUST ABOUT EVERY WEEKEND AT THE LOCAL DRAG STRIP OR SLED-PULLING TRACK.

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