DEAR DT,
I ENJOY READING YOUR MAGAZINE AND SUBSCRIBED TO IT SHORTLY AFTER READING IT THE FIRST TIME.
WHEN YOU STARTED WORKING ON THE "BROWN TRUCK" I SAW THE WHEELS AND THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD LOOK GREAT ON MY TRUCK.
I HAVE A MINERAL GRAY '06 DODGE MEGA CAB. IN THE FIRST ARTICLE YOU STATED THAT THE RIMS WERE AMERICAN RACING 17X9 TEFLON COATED FUEL WHEELS. IN ANSWERING A LETTER FROM ONE OF YOUR READERS, YOU SHOWED A PICTURE OF THE RIM AND SAID THAT IT COULD BE FOUND ON AMERICAN RACING'S WEBSITE UNDER THE ATX LINE. I HAVE GONE THERE AND CANNOT IDENTIFY THE RIM.
MY PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS. I CAN'T IDENTIFY THE SERIES (PART NO.). I CAN'T FIND A 17X9 WHEEL THAT LOOKS LIKE THE PHOTO (ONLY 17X8.5). THE PHOTO IN THE MAGAZINE APPEARS TO BE GRAY AND ALL ONE COLOR, AT THE WEBSITE THE WHEELS APPEAR TO BE BLACK.
ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THANKS
AL PROCIDA
COLLINGSWOOD, NJ
THE WHEELS WE HAD ON THAT BROWN MEGA CAB ARE INDEED AMERICAN RACING ATX FUEL 8 BLACK WHEELS. OUR GUESS IS THAT AMERICAN RACING HASN'T UPDATED THE PHOTOS ON ITS WEBSITE FOR THAT LINE. THE WHEELS ARE TEFLON COATED AND ARE ONE COLOR. THEY APPEAR BLACK IN MOST CONDITIONS BUT HAVE A GRAY CAST TO THEM IN SOME LIGHT. YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK ON AMERICAN RACING'S WEBSITE, WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW IT WOULD BE HARD TO ORDER SOMETHING THAT SHOWS A DIFFERENT PHOTO THAN WHAT YOU WANT TO ORDER. WE RECOMMEND CONTACTING AMERICAN RACING'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. ON ITS WEBSITE, WWW.AMERICANRACING.COM. -ED.
DEAR DT,
IN REFERENCE TO THE AUGUST ISSUE, PAGE 10: SINCE INSTALLING A BANKS INTAKE, 6-GUN & EXHAUST ON MY `08 GMC 2500HD I GET OVER 23MPG AT 65 MPH. AN ELECTRIC FAN SHOULD PUSH ME PAST 24. AND THEN I'LL GET A GEARVENDORS OVERDRIVE. SIMPLE, DIMPLE.
JAMES NICHOLS
VIA EMAIL
GLAD TO HEAR YOU'VE HAD SUCH GOOD SUCCESS WITH YOUR FUEL ECONOMY AFTER SPENDING ALL THAT MONEY TO MODIFY THE STOCK TRUCK. WE'D LIKE A WORLD WHERE THOSE ECONOMY NUMBERS ARE ACHIEVED FROM THE FACTORY. -ED.
DEAR DT,
YOU STARTED OUT AS THE ALTERNATIVE TO DIESEL POWER MAGAZINE, NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT TO BE MORE LIKE THEM. YOU STARTED OUT GEARED TO THE DAILY DRIVER AND HAVE NOT STUCK TO YOUR MISSION. IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF HIGH FUEL, STICK TO THE BASICS AND CONCENTRATE ON PROVIDING US WITH BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO OWNS A DIESEL NO LONGER CARES ABOUT GOING FASTER ON A GALLON OF FUEL, THEY JUST WANT TO GO FARTHER. EVERYONE! THAT IS WELL OVER 22 OUT OF 22 IN MY CIRCLE OF DIESEL FRIENDS. NO ONE HAS PURCHASED ANY PERFORMANCE ITEMS IN THE PAST YEAR. THEY HAVE AIRED UP THE TIRES, SLOWED DOWN AND TAKEN FEWER TRIPS.
JAMES COACHMAN
CLEARWATER, FL
THANKS FOR KEEPING US ON THE RIGHT TRACK. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE, WE HAVEN'T LOST OUR FOCUS ON DAILY DRIVERS. YOUR FUEL COMMENTS BRING UP AN INTERESTING POINT. ACCORDING TO A RECENT SEMA REPORT, AFTERMARKET PRODUCT SALES FOR LIGHT DUTY DIESEL PICKUPS HAVE INCREASED BY A WIDE MARGIN OVER THIS PAST YEAR IN SPITE OF HIGHER FUEL PRICES. OUR TAKE ON THE DATA IS THAT WHILE PEOPLE MAY BE FOCUSING ON FUEL ECONOMY INSTEAD OF POWER, THEY'RE BUYING THE SAME PRODUCTS BECAUSE INCREASED POWER AND EFFICIENCY IN A DIESEL ENGINE EQUALS IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY (AS LONG AS YOU KEEP YOUR FOOT OUT OF IT). -ED.
DEAR DT,
I WAS WONDERING, ON THE COVER OF ISSUE 3 THERE IS A WHITE DODGE DUALLY. WHAT LIFT KIT AND TIRE COMBO IS IT RUNNING? I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR BUT FINDING GOOD INFO HAS BEEN HARD. ANYTHING WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THANKS
JOHN C
VIA EMAIL
THE WHEELS ON THAT DODGE ARE AMERICAN EAGLE ALLOYS SERIES 058 IN A 16X6. THE TIRES ARE 285/75R16 TOYO OPEN COUNTRY M/TS, AND THE TRUCK HAS A 2-INCH LEVELING KIT ON IT WITH AN ADD-A-LEAF IN THE REAR WITH AIR BAGS. -ED.
DEAR DT,
WHILE READING THE ARTICLE ["STRETCHING IT", OCTOBER 2008], WHICH I ENJOYED, I NOTICED YOU PUT RECAPS ALL THE WAY AROUND ON THE TRUCK. YOU CAN'T RUN RECAPS ON THE STEERING AXLE, IT IS DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL IN MOST STATES, THE PROBLEM BEING IF THE CAP COMES OFF YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL AND MAKE A BIG MESS OUT OF A VERY NICE TRUCK.
FRED BEHRLE
VIA EMAIL
ACCORDING TO THE UTAH HIGHWAY PATROL, IN UTAH RECAPS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE STEER AXLE OF SCHOOL BUSES AND COMMERCIAL BUSES. HOWEVER, IT'S LEGAL TO RUN RECAPS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF UTAH. YOU ARE CORRECT ABOUT RECAPS BEING DANGEROUS ON HEAVY TRUCKS. HOWEVER, WITH A 1 TON LIGHT-DUTY TRUCK IT'S LESS OF AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE GVW IS ONLY BETWEEN 10,500 - 12,500. READERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR LOCAL LAWS AND FIND A REPUTABLE AND EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL TIRE SHOP BEFORE USING RECAPS ON THEIR TRUCKS. THANKS FOR KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR SAFETY. -ED.
DEAR DT,
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE NEW PARTICULATE FILTERS THAT ARE ON THE NEW DIESELS? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DID?
RHETT CRANDALL
VIA EMAIL
WHILE IT IS AGAINST FEDERAL AND STATE EPA REGULATIONS, THE DPF ON ANY OF THE THREE NEW DIESEL ENGINES TECHNICALLY CAN BE REMOVED AND BYPASSED. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, THE SENSORS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, BUT A TRUCK RUNNING WITHOUT A DPF WOULD GET BETTER FUEL ECONOMY AND IMPROVED HORSEPOWER. HOWEVER, IF CAUGHT WITHOUT THE DPF IN PLACE, IT'S A PRETTY HUGE FINE. THE FEDERAL LAWS ALLOW PROSECUTION OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED, INCLUDING THE VEHICLE OWNER. -ED.
DEAR DT,
I WAS READING THE ARTICLE ON TOM STEEN'S TRUCK ["POLICE INTERCEPTOR", AUGUST DT, PAGE 28] AND WAS WONDERING IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH TOM FOR MORE INFORMATION? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON HIS FUEL SYSTEM. I HAVE A `97 F250 AND I AM THINKING OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO MY TRUCK. ALSO I JUST FOUND YOUR MAG ONE DAY AND AFTER READING SUBSCRIBED INSTANTLY. THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION IS GREAT. YOU DON'T HAVE PAGES FULL OF SEMA SHOW TRUCKS LIKE OTHER MAGAZINES DO. I AM THE TYPE THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHAT WENT INTO THE TRUCK TO MAKE IT BETTER, NOT HOW MANY WATTS THE RADIO HAS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
MICHAEL HULSE
VIA EMAIL
THANKS FOR THE GOOD WORDS ON THE MAGAZINE. WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO APPEAL TO THE DAILY DRIVER/BLUE COLLAR DIESEL CROWD. YOU PROBABLY HATED THE OCTOBER COVER, BUT IT WAS A LEGIT WORKING TRUCK DESPITE THE PAINT JOB AND 37S. AS FOR THE STORY ON TOM STEEN'S TRUCK, TRY GOING TO WWW.POWERSTROKENATION.COM AND FIND TOM UNDER THE USER NAME TOM S. HE'S GOT A PRETTY LENGTHY WRITE-UP ALONG WITH PICTURES ON HIS FUEL SYSTEM BUILD-UP. IF YOU JOIN THE SITE THERE, YOU WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH TOM THROUGH IT. -ED.