Jeff Johnson
Oakdale, California
Jeff Johnson didn't nickname this sweet 2000 Dodge Sport Diesel, but we think "Space Ghost" fits. This ride is equipped with an industrial injection, turbo stage 2 injectors and a BD pulse exhaust manifold.
A Banks 4-inch exhaust, smart lock trans brake, exhaust brake and hi- ram air intake and (4) upgraded EGR disc brakes are just a few of the mods. There's also a White Face gauge cluster, rapid hitch, projector headlights, Jack Rabbit tonneau cover and an impressive full set of Westach Gauges.
A Mag-Hytec double deep transmission pan and differential cover were installed as was, interestingly, a Volkswagen Jetta antenna.
Under the hood there are Optima batteries, a beefed up transmission with ERB Bros, flex plate and a double disk converter F.A.S.S. Fuel system. It rides with Goodyear 305/50r20 weld Commando rims with carbon inserts and has Edge Juice with A2 monitor GPS and camera and all Amsoil synthetic oil. Other mods include a Volcant air box, Bilstein shocks, air lift and air bags.
Johnson did all of the body work and paint on his own in his barn.
Don & Nita Herod
Marietta, Georgia
There's a reason the Herods nicknamed their 2006 GMC "The Silver Fox." This Sierra 3500 XLT DRW LBZ 4x4 with an Allison 1000 6-speed auto transmission, has every single option GM offered for 2006, including dual alternators.
For aftermarket engine parts they added the Diablo Sport Predator tuner, a shop fabricated, mandrel-bent 4-inch turbo back exhaust with the muffler removed. It also has a Volant Ram Air CAI and Air Dog FS-2500 in-line oil filters.
Herod said the exterior has chrome "anyplace I can screw it on or stick it to" and an interior of burled walnut, a sunroof and front in-dash and rear overhead console DVDs.
"The Silver Fox" has 48,000 miles on it, since, "She's used only for towing our 14,400-lb. fifth-wheel camper," Herod said. "She's not happy unless she's hitched up and pullin'."
Jake Yochman
North Jackson, Ohio
Eighteen-year-old Jake Yockman has taken his 2003 Chevy short bed extended cab and given it 6-inch black single stack and a PPE lift pump. Plus, there are the MOOG pitman/idler arms, a K&N Intake and Cognito HD tie rods. The extra juice comes in from some Auto Meter cobalt gauges, a CIU solid center link and the Suncoast Stage Gmax Transmission.
For performance, it has EFI live tuning by MM Diesel Performance.
Greg Temple
Bryan, Ohio
Greg Temple's "Project Resurrection" started back on Independence Day of 2002, when he planned to run his 1997 Dodge 2500 in the local parade. But he "got the valves just a little too hot." Setting broken motor disappointment aside, he decided to build a big horsepower street truck to sled pull in the 2.8 class. Not being made of money, he started buying parts piece by piece, but horsepower and part technology rose faster than he anticipated. "Things were changing in the diesel horsepower world," he said. He sold the parts he bought and started over again, only to have the truck broken into, thieves making away with the new parts half of the interior.
With yet another rebuild in front of him, he decided to ditch the stock 1997 12-valve. With help from Rick at Dave's Diesel in Angola, IN, they installed a 6.7 block, a 24-valve head and a p-pump. There was also a custom crankshaft/camshaft from Dave's Diesel, as well as a custom intake by B&B, Nye's, of Muncie, IN, who would port and polish the head. Since the head would have to be fire ringed, they used a bull's-eye turbo and a Stainless Diesel exhaust manifold. A Hogan intercooler and fluid dampener rounded out the project.
Dave's Diesel would build the fuel system, transmission, torque converter and motor. A F.A.S.S. fuel system was added to get the fuel to the P7100. Over the next few months, the numbers started to show up: 950 hp with a 2.6 turbocharger and 1100 with a 2.8 turbocharger. As a final touch, vinyl wrap was placed on the truck, aptly dubbed Resurrection. Terry Henricks Chrysler sponsored the truck wrap, with a picture of a Phoenix just to top it all off. As Temple said, "See you at the pulls."