Truck Source Diesel was founded in 2005 by Chris Buhidar and Christopher Alaniz, and the pair operate their 10,000 sq.-ft. facility in San Antonio, TX with over 30 years of diesel experience. Truck Source Diesel (TSD) sells and installs lift kits, race parts and other truck and SUV accessories. The shop fabricate all its own fuel systems, turbo kits, fuel pumps, suspension systems and lift kits in-house. Alongside upgrades, TSD also completes basic repair and service work.
In tandem with their moto, “from every day to race day,” TSD also does a good amount of performance work for those who just want a beefy street truck and those who want to hit the track. Nathan Wheeler is one such customer who came to TSD for a race day build for his 2010 F-250.
What’s truly remarkable about Nathan’s build is that it retains many stock components being more of a “budget build,” which is an extraordinary feat given the sheer amount of power this engine produces. The ECM remains untouched, and there’s no trans brake to be found. Even the frame and body of the truck are primarily stock, with a bit of fiberglass to save weight. The 4,800-pound beast still relies on stock axles, steering, differentials, and drive shafts, making it a testament to the engine’s performance capabilities.
The engine is a 6.7L Cummins. To achieve the right balance of power and strength, Nathan decided to sleeve down the engine to a 5.9L displacement. This choice was driven by the need for reliability without breaking the bank – rather than break the bank and going with a deck plated 6.7L, he opted for the 5.9L setup as a starting point to build off. A wet Stage 2 D&J Precision head built up by TSD is a standout addition though.
The engine is S&S Diesel Motorsport fueled by way of a 14mm and 12mm CP3 combo and also equipped with 450-percent over injectors. The Cummins is backed by a BTS-built and PCS-controlled 4R100 transmission.
On the forced air side, Nathan runs a single 88mm GT55 turbo rather than a compound system like most racers. Despite this, he still manages to squeeze out around 2,000 horsepower.
This is also thanks to an added extra kick of nitrous to his already powerful setup. Nathan sprays as many as four kits of nitrous on a pass, but notes that it’s not a large amount. While it may not be much, it’s still a substantial ~500-horsepower boost, and it’s distributed evenly to maintain control.
With a lot of this truck still holding tons of potential, we’ll be curious to see how much further this build goes as Nathan continues to make upgrades.
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].
