Turbo Diesel Registry
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/594528
66 www.turbodieselregister.com TDR 90 WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG? You might have guessed that I've dealt with a lot of project vehicles over the years; fortunately they usually belong to someone else. Projects and donor vehicles (oddly named since they often receive more or better parts than they donate) used for testing, how-to stories and such tend to be a nuisance. More than once I've seen things not go as planned, occasionally spectacularly so. Earlier this year I went down to Bones Fab in Camarillo, California, to cover a Centerforce clutch installation on a 6.7 Ram that had been tuned up a smidge. The truck was used for fun and pulling trailers, and logged enough miles to readily gather data. Centerforce had a new twin-disc out for the G56 and they didn't shy away when I mentioned a machined HE451, Wicked Diesel 85-over CP3, DDP150 injectors, Steedspeed manifold, ARP head studs, Smarty 20ME or Lazar Smith G56 with exoskeleton—things that might send some clutch reps running for cover. Oops, no pun intended. So I managed a few schedules and we all met up at Bones Fab on a crisp Saturday morning. Jimmy (aka, Bones because he's not the biggest guy in the shop) builds hot rods mostly, but he messes around with other things too. His daily driver's an old Crew Cab GM dually 4x4 on big tires and running a compound-turbo 5.9. When that was first installed, a mutual friend dragged him by to show me, and when I asked about the GM 4L80 behind it, he wasn't worried, noting it held up just fine behind his blown big-block. I think my skepticism bought me some credibility when it grenaded shortly thereafter. When I arrived, Bones was working on his old Elgin, Illinois, School District short bus for towing to car shows. The pictures show the state of underhood progress. "Nothing wild," he said. I know you're thinking the clutch installation didn't go as planned (it did actually, in fewer hours than anticipated) or that the clutch didn't work or broke as soon as we applied full power. Nope, the engine broke, most of the damage was done beforehand. It had made some clattering noises driving in. The pilot thought he'd gotten some bad fuel, while Bones and I exchanged "yeah, right" glances, thinking this noise was more serious than bad fuel. I can report the Centerforce clutch engaged more smoothly than the old dual-disc (when it was new or old) and had much lower pedal effort. I can't say much more. As the engine was sounding sicker and sicker, they pulled the filters off and found them full of shiny flakes and decided that engine was done. As soon as the new one's built, around various deployments and those better parts, I'll let you know about the clutch. And the new motor. Bones' old Elgin, Illinois, School District short bus. Better than stock? We think so. Bones' bus undergoing suspension and steering rebuilding. Journalist G.R. Whale talks about all things Diesel.