Best starting point for a FAST diesel truck?

Been doing alittle research latley and thinking about putting together a diesel, regular cab, 4x4 truck just to go fast and scare the ricers and other assorted dingle berries away. I want to build it fast as possible and have it still within the daily driver realm. No lift, stock wheels and tires- sleeper style. Regular cab for weight, and I've always liked the way they look vs ext cabs and dually's. It's only me and the dog so space doesn't really matter. What would be the best truck to start with? I've been looking at the '02-'03 Duramax trucks mostly. A decent truck with under 80k miles can be had for under $18k with a little looking. What about the cummins or powerstroke trucks for goin fast? No real towing to speak of, maybe 2 or 3 times a year. I just wanna go fast. I owned a '95 12v dodge with a plate and boost fitting thingy. I've driven at length a early ('97) stock 7.3 power stroke. Would I be better off with an '03 up common rail cummins? 6.0 ps? I don't really care much about brand...whatevers gonna get me he most bang for my buck I guess. :stir:

 

Go with the Dmax. IMO its the easiest to upgrade as far as computer tuning and bolt-ons. With EFI Live, 4" exhaust, and a few other goodies, mid 12's for a reg cab is almost cake.

John

 

I 2nd the D-Max it is the easiest platform to make quick speed out of. Look for an LB7 truck, they seem to be the easiest to make fast.

 

What about the allison? Will it handle that power level stock? Or should I do some research on trans upgrades too?

John...with the mods listed in your sig, how fast is your truck? Trans mods?

And LB7 is early right? '01-04?

 

Found this truck on autotrader...

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...ission=Automatic&max_price=18000&cardist=2407

Thats the kinda rig i've been lookin at. Ideas/comments?

 

Another vote for the LB7 d-max. It doesnt take many mods to make them fast, especially a regular cab.

 

The allison will hold up to more power than other autos on the market but you will be surpassing the capability of the allison with what you want to do. I have seen LB7 trucks (01'-04.0') run high 11's with only a transmission, TTS Extreme chip, and nitrous. You will also need Tierod sleaves to keep from bending your Tierods on 4wd launches.

 

Hmm...Good information there.

I'm still awhile off from being able to make this happen...tryin to get all my ducks in a row I guess.

 

As much as I hate to say it, I 5th (?) the Dmax. I'd get an '01-'02 Chevy. I think thats the best looking front clip GM ever made.

Everyone raves about the Allison, but it's still a stock automatic. If they were as good as some like to make them seem, we could send a few over seas to take care of that situation and bring some soldiers home.oke:

If you mod the truck enough, and beat on it plenty, you'll be ordering a high dollar tranny from the builder of your choice.

Regardless, I don't think I would waste time trying to make a stock Allison with 70K (?) hold with a different valve body/TC. I'd just order up a Crate built Allison with a WARRANTY ready to go and set up for 600-800HP and just be done with it, because in the end when you get the motor where you want it, and the trans won't hold, you'll be kicking yourself and all the money you spent trying to make the stocker hold will basically be wasted.

This is coming from someone that made that mistake, I wish I would have put a triple disk converter in my new trans instead of a single disk, and now I'm done for more mods unless I want to go back into the trans and replace another converter.

Anyway, those Dmax's are fast, and super easy to tune with the right programmer. But, if you want a slightly cheaper route I'd look at a 98-02 Ram. 24valve Rams can get it on too without requiring a loan either.

I don't think I'd bother with any of the Fords. The 6.0 is too high dollar for the initial truck and too many problems, but they are fast. The 7.3 doesn't lift my skirt either, they don't usually do much at the track and pulls either.

 

You wear a skirt?

 

enought money and all three can go faster than you likeopcorn:

 

Very true. I would say fro ease of build, the 01-02 Dmax rocks. Get good with EFI Live, Add a BD turbo, straight piped exhaust, and start looking at the transmission. The transmission will make a huge difference.

Next choice will be an 03 and newer Cummins. The Common Rail motor has so much potential, drivetrain is very stout. The Transmission is the only exception to this. Plan on spending some money there right off the bat.

Where are you located?

 

Only in the evenings, with combat boots.




















Just kidding...

 

My truck with the big tires (34") has run a 13.1 in the quarter. I know I can get it lower with smaller tires and a harder launch. That is also with no weight reduction. I have the spare in and a Ranchhand bumper and a toolbox full of tools.

I'm sure with a small diet, I can hit high 12's.

Yes, I have a Suncoast Stage III for tranny mods.

Hope that helps.
John

 

Location updated.

 

I feel Dodges tranny woes would be cured if one used a straight shift over an automatic.

 

Yeah but a manual is not nearly as fast as an auto in a Diesel b/c you lose boost whenever you let off to shift.

 

true but I would have it to keep the tranny out of the shop kinda a sad trade off but would help.

 

You aren't going to build a fast diesel with a standard, so thats kind of a mute point IMHO. To keep the trans out of the shop you just pony up the money and buy a fully built unit.

 

I wouldnt go as far to say it wouldnt be fast and if you had a twin turbo set up you could very easily build back the boost.I think B&M makes a short throw shift kit for trucks or so I either read here or on pirate cant recall might be a lie who knows.