10-4 Magazine March 2023

10-4 Magazine / March 2023 57 and it is common to see the top two or three places in a class separated by only a few points. That means to stand out, a competitor has to be special, and that “special” has no limits, except for your imagination (and wallet). In the last few years, there has been a new trend in truck competitions. It’s not all show and no go, and the amount of chrome, paint, and pinstriping has no play. At these events, wheelbase doesn’t count, but the roar of your engine, the smell of burned diesel, and some blue smoke from slipping your tires, does. In case you are not sure what I’m referring to, its diesel drag racing! The fastest truck wins, and it’s all about the horses and the skill of the driver. I got the bug a few years ago when a race took place at a small raceway in Michigan called Onaway Speedway. I’m not sure it even had a place on the map at that time, as only the locals knew about it. Since then, we have seen numerous events take place across the U.S., and some are even sanctioned events now in conjunction with the NHRDA (National Hot Rod Diesel Association). The first one this year will be the Desert Diesel Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsport Park in Chandler, AZ on April 14-15. In case you haven’t guessed, I’m that guy you meet at the truck show who walks past the trailer queens and makes a bee line to the workhorse division. I’m all about power, performance, and pull baby pull! I want to know the specs on the engine, the driveline components, where their torque curve is, stuff like that. I’m always listening to the drivers for tips to squeak out that last little bit of horsepower in a hard pull or the latest secret for performance that will translate to more MPG. But right now, as I am dealing with a major engine overhaul and more, the most important thing for me was what happened (or didn’t happen) as I was on the verge of a catastrophic failure a long way from home. This month I’m reaching out to the drivers who own and repair their own trucks. I’m a CAT man with a Peterbilt and a long hood, but that doesn’t mean I discount any other brand of engine or the model and style of the cab. I think I have owned or driven about everything out there pre-2010. As a rule, I’m not very impressed with the latest electronic engines or the emission systems that cause them to fail. Each manufacturer produces a product for a given purpose. If you are looking for economy, then Detroit Diesel is the most likely choice. When big power is demanded, and abuse is your game, CAT is my choice. If you need both and want a more refined power plant with a good service record, I would definitely go with Cummins. But, no matter your choice, be mindful of how you use it and who repairs it. In many of my articles over the years, I make references to preparations and the storage of replacement parts. Just last month I lost a week of work because of parts not getting to me in a timely manner. This month I’m taking advantage of my personal parts supply. I’m always planning ahead, and I knew the time would come when my motor would go down. I was hoping it would be a long time from now, but we don’t always get what we want. So, here I am, sourcing parts and planning timeframes around schedules outside of my control. This is where I’m glad I didn’t buy a new pickup last year or a new Harley. Instead, I was collecting parts I would need to rebuild my “Just Steppin” rig. Did you ever notice the advantage of purchasing parts you know you will need at some point, but are available now, and at a reasonable price? So, what do you do? There are those people who condemn me for spending the money early when I don’t need to, but those same people later complain when they are caught short and in a bind, having to have the parts they need shipped quickly (and costly). When buying parts you don’t need right now, not only can you shop best price, but you can also take advantage of the professional experience of the best builders in the industry. I’m a believer of more information is good, but multiple sources of information is better, and likely to give you a more rounded view of your desired outcome. This whole project started out as a radiator problem. Many of you know when a radiator fails it is most often not a fault of the radiator, but rather some other part that was pushed to its limit. If you take it to a repair shop, most will replace only what you report the problem to be, looking for the fastest, cheapest, and easiest fix. Remember, they get paid by the hour, not the outcome! I’m not that driver. I will quiz everyone I know as to what can cause such an event. I am always collecting as much information as my brain can absorb. Then, through a process of elimination, find the problem. Then, when making the repair, I take the time to repair or replace any item I find that is substandard, even if it’s not worn out, but only worn in. Many of my friends say I devote to much time to TLC. Case in point: I had a leaking oil cooler a couple months ago that started this whole thing by blending crankcase oil in the antifreeze. The quick fix was to replace the oil cooler, since I knew it was failing, or at least suspected that was the cause. In the process, I saw the motor mount on the right side had dried up, probably caused by its proximity to the exhaust down tube and the turbo heat. Upon closer inspection, I could see it had wallowed out and was chipping away. Question is, do I fix it now, or leave it until I get a shake, rattle, or roll in the drive line?