Your engine is the single most important part of your truck. It’s made up of a ton of smaller parts, naturally, and sometimes, well, those parts start to not work so hot. What’s a grease monkey to do? Pull out the offending part and upgrade it! Whether you’re fixing a busted up to snuff anymore, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded component or looking to make your truck more powerful and need to shore up the parts of your engine that aren’t up parts from all corners of the industry to tell you what parts you should look at if you’re undertaking an engine rebuild. Tearing your engine apart isn’t for the faint of heart, though, so make sure you have a backup plan in case you get in over your head.
ARP
If you’re just starting your build and are on the lookout for parts, ARP’s fasteners, from engine to driveline, are some of the best in the business. They also make a ring compressor that you should take a look at. Available in 15 sizes commonly used in diesel engines, ARP’s ring compressors are CNC-machined from 6061-T6 billet tube material and feature a true radius for each different bore diameter. What’s more, they incorporate a wire O-ring relief. Type 3 anodizing is used for long life, and the bore size is prominently engraved in 3/4-inch-high numbers for easy identification.
(800-826-3045/www.arp-bolts.com)
Colt Cams
Colt Cams products are often imitated, never duplicated. They are tried, tested, and proven. Their camshafts are built from scratch and are designed to improve your fuel mileage, lower EGTs, and help the turbo spool quicker by optimizing your airflow through the engine. With applications for both Power Strokes and Cummins engines, Colt Cams have the camshaft you’re looking for. Their Ford camshafts reduce EGTs by getting the exhaust out of the cylinder and can support up to 5,000 RPMs. Their stage 3 Cummins camshafts deliver the strongest mid-range torque and horsepower possible, while still providing good bottom end and drivability.
(604-856-3571/www.coltcams.com)
CP Carrillo
After years of research and development and working closely with renowned engine builders, CP Carrillo now has DH7100PRKH and DH7100PRKS Piston and Connecting Rod Kits available for the 5.9L Cummins. The kits consist of connecting rods that are 0.856 inches longer and are designed to work with their DH7100 piston with a 0.856-inch shorter CH and a Duramax Pin. The piston has a 4.020-inch bore and 16:1 compression ratio. This combo is approximately two pounds lighter per cylinder than the stock components (which translates to a 12-pound savings off the rotating assembly). This allows for a longer rod without a deck plate, improving rod-to-stroke ratio.
(949-567-9000/www.cp-carrillo.com)
Mahle
Mahle’s performance cast pistons are designed for street/strip driving or pulling trucks making anywhere from 400 to 1000hp that still get used as daily drivers. Machined from OE castings with the steel top ring insert, these pistons give you the same drivability and longevity of an OE piston with additional strength through industry-leading design technology. Forged diesel pistons are best suited for dedicated drag and pulling vehicles where strength and design flexibility make them a favorite for competition-only applications. Although they are stronger than cast pistons, the lack of a steel top ring insert will result in a limited life cycle for street applications. Steel MONOTHERM pistons provide unmatched strength and durability, enabling you to step to the next level or tow longer with confidence. All pistons are coated with Mahle’s proprietary Grafal skirt coating for reduced drag and increased scuff resistance.
(248-305-8200/www.us.mahle.com)
Merchant Automotive
Merchant Automotive’s Deluxe Injector Package for the LB7 Duramax engine includes everything for proper replacement. The goal of this kit is to make sure everything you need to do the job is in one package. One of the things they recommend doing is replacing the injector hard lines to ensure debris does not get into your new injectors. Not only are the lines included, but so are all the seals, tools, MA Heavy Duty Return line bolts, and everything else you need to make sure the job is done right. The kit is available with stock or SAC45 Injectors.
(866-399-7169/www.merchant-automotive.com)
Power Stroke Products
Add some power to your Ford with a camshaft and set of new cylinder heads! The Power Stroke Products camshaft helps with spool up, turbo lag, EGT control, and all-around performance. Their cylinder heads have hardened pressed-in seats, along with pressed-in valve guides, improved casting designs, along with options for 100-pound valve springs and O-ringing. They also have a full line of Cummins heads from the early model 24v 5.9L to the 6.7L. All parts are new, never refurbished.
(512-355-2999/www.powerstrokeproducts.com)
PPE
If you’re looking to do an entire engine rebuild (and if so, man, hats off to [you], sir), PPE has a whole host of options for you. They can work with you to design and build your engine to a finished level or any level in between. This can include the turbo and fuel system installed, or even a complete turnkey engine with every performance accessory needed to get you down the track faster. PPE has taken their advanced engineering knowledge and created Duramax diesel engine builds that are tailor-fit to your specific needs. Now it’s up to you to choose how far you want to go. Choose which stage short block and which stage cylinder head is best for you. There are many build option combinations, and they are happy to work with you in determining your exact needs.
Short-block options begin with original GM parts in Stage 1 and are able to hold more horsepower and torque as the stages increase. If you want a long block engine, you have a choice in cylinder heads, which provide an increase in horsepower and torque as the stage increases. There is sure to be the right combination of build for anyone: from street to strip, heavy-hauling to sled pulling. With PPE, create the engine of your dreams.
(714-985-4825/www.pacificp.com)
Sinister Diesel
Sinister Diesel releases their new high performance motor mounts for 2001-2010 LB7/LLY/LBZ/LMM Duramax trucks. These mounts use heavy-duty polyurethane to hold your motor securely in place, preventing rocking even in high torque and horsepower situations. You get the alignment features of stock mounts with far greater performance and durability. These motor mounts improve the feel and handling of your Chevy truck and come with everything you need for installation including two motor mounts, high-grade fasteners and thread locker.
(888-966-6543/www.sinisterdiesel.com)