Building a performance or show vehicle is an art form, and every driver’s worst fear is seeing their creation come apart. Unfortunately, it’s fairly easy for a performance engine to break down due to a number of variables. The extensive list of components, moving parts and tolerances working in tandem to produce power means that even one flaw can lead to a massive issue.
Unfortunately, Brian Tom was one of those unlucky few who suffered through engine mishaps on one of his prized builds. He’s currently in the process of acquiring parts to restore the engine powering his dream truck, a bronze colored 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD named “Goldilocks.” Under the hood is our Diesel of the Week, a powerful 6.6L LLY Duramax.
An important piece of the build was keeping the Silverado a daily driver, even though it could easily pass as a show truck and performance beast as well. After several upgrades were made, the engine was producing around 1,110 horsepower on nitrous.
The build started with a stage 2 short block Tom purchased from DmaxStore, a Duramax-specific parts supplier based in northern California. The short block includes a Callies DuraStar crankshaft, a full set of Carillo rods, a MAHLE cast and piston kit, aftermarket billet main girdle, a billet steel FlexPlate, and an ATI super damper.
A Wagler Competition Products pinned oil pump, SoCal Diesel beehive valve springs, and retainers, pushrods, and flex plate surrounded by ARP hardware also make up the build.
While Tom plans for a compound setup in the future, the current setup features a single Forced Inductions 476/87/1.0 turbocharger that feeds air into the engine. With the bigger sized turbo installed, he went with S&S Diesel Motorsport fueling to match. 150-percent over fuel injectors are powered by a PPE dual filter kit with two LBZ pumps. The exhaust is vented out a set of PPE manifolds, through an HSP Diesel S400 downpipe, and exiting out of a 4-inch MBRP exhaust.
Paired with a fully built Inglewood Transmission Allison that features a Goerend Transmission torque converter, this engine is able to make Tom’s Silverado a beast on and off the track. We can wait to see how this 6.6L turns out in the future when he’s able to build it back up to its former glory!
Diesel of the Week is sponsored by AMSOIL. If you have an engine you’d like to highlight in this series, please email Engine Builder Editor Greg Jones at [email protected].
