Let Me Sum Up
Way back in Part One we tore the engine down and rebuilt the block, adding in a new intake tube, welded water pump, sump kit, head studs and gasket, Cat fuel adapter, new fuel and oil filters, and stainless steel up-pipes—all from Sinister Diesel.
In Part Two, we kept our eyes on the truck’s performance and added a DRP turbo to the existing turbo setup. We also installed improved fuel injectors from Dynomite Diesel Products and achieved vastly increased horsepower and torque. During initial testing at Bully Dog, the stock truck reached 350 horsepower on the dyno. The hard-working Crew at Custom Auto that has worked on the truck step-by-step through the entire process joined forces with Dmitri Millard at No Zone Diesel to devise a new and improved transmission that would be able to accommodate every modification. Along with that, we swapped out the transmission pan cover and the rear differential cover for PML upgraded versions. With most of the under-the-hood changes complete, we moved on to the fuel and exhaust systems and the exterior appearance.
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Part Three saw the installation of a FASS fuel pump to push more diesel through the system and increase flow and pressure. Not only that, but the FASS pump is also the first line of defense against foreign particulate matter. Next, we removed the stock exhaust system and replaced it with parts from Sinister Diesel. The stainless steel exhaust tip sits right under the new Spyder tail lights. Those tail lights are just the first of many outward improvements made to the truck. Spyder also provides the look we wanted for the headlights. To complement the new lights, we put in a custom grille from Status Grilles that has a really slick steel and woven wire mesh, along with nickel-plated steel pikes ringing the mesh. Rounding out the front of the truck is an Iron Cross Automotive heavy-duty push bar. The finishing touches for the exterior are the LED light bars from Assault LED Lighting that we put both across the top of the windshield and in the space between the bumper and push bar.
It’s been a long road getting to where we are now with the “grandpa truck,” as we’ve taken to calling it. The finish line may be in sight, but we’re still some ways off. To extend this metaphor even further, if we want to win this race, it’s time to focus on leg day.