Diesel engine is a compression-ignition engine invented by Rudolph Diesel and it can be operated not only on diesel fuel, but raw oil or rapeseed oil as well. What do you imagine when you hear “Diesel power?” Trucks, locomotives, ferries, black smoke and that smell… Anyway diesel engines appeared in cars and thanks to the new technologies they show high performance in motorsports in common and on the drag strip in particular.
Gale Banks is building dragsters for more than 40 years and he has great experience in petrol and diesel engines tuning and now he is a manufacturer of tuning parts as well. In 2006 Gale built fastest pickup for the drag strip. Banks wants to see the drag race truck become the first diesel truck to run the quarter-mile faster than in 8 seconds. Although diesel-powered dragsters are already that quick in a lightweight drag car with the aerodynamic of a dart and tradtional blocky silhouette of pickups were still far from that level.
Chevrolet S-10 ‘2001 Pro Stock Truck prepared by Panella team was taken as a basis. NHRA closed that category right after this truck was built and it managed to make only 8 passes down the track. Gale bought that chassis and powered it with custom made V8 Duramax 6.6L. Fuel intake is enforced with nitrous oxide and water-methanol injection systems which not only improve performance but also keep clean exhaust reducing black smoke. The truck is made following traditional recommendations — chrome moly frame with fiberglass panels, all heavy parts were moved to rear. Rear wheels are mounted with quite unusual way — swing arm is used instead of four links. The front one is more traditional — MacPherson struts are used.
Definitely this is a street illegal car and it can only drive on special drag tracks. Now it is the fastest diesel pickup with 7.77 seconds and 288 kmh result in the quarter mile.
Tech specs:
Body: Chevy S-10 silhouette on a chrome-moly frame
Engine: V8 Chevy Duramax bi-turbo 6.6L
Output: 1200 hp at 5800 rpm
Fuel system: Modified Bosch common rail with nitrous oxide and water methanol injection
Transmission: Manual, 5-speed
Brakes: 4 disc brakes
Wheels: Hoosier 33.5x16 drag wheels and Hoosier front runners
Photo: Autoweek & Diesel Power mag
