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SEMA Member Seeks Input
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A SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) member automotive aftermarket parts manufacturer is considering a new line of products including late-model vehicle performance tuners. This company is interested in your feedback. The following link will take you to a brief survey allowing you to share your insights into performance parts and vehicle tuning. The survey shouldn’t take more than five minutes and the information you provide will be anonymous.
* * Click here to take survey.
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Weekend on the Edge, 2008
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 Early fall in Western Utah around Salt Lake City is that in-between season. Leaves are turning, summer is about over, but there’s still no snow for skiing. Turbo Diesel enthusiasts, especially owners of Dodge Rams, have something else to look forward to: Weekend on the Edge.
Well, known for their power-enhancing programmers like Juice with Attitude and the Evolution, Edge Products takes over Salt Lake’s Rocky Mountain Raceways drag strip, and invites all diesel truck owners to test their power and skill. It’s no coincidence that two thirds or more of the competitors drive Dodge Turbo Diesels.
As warm-up and qualifying runs begin, thick black smoke billows across shiny asphalt, and the smell of half-burnt diesel and melting rubber fills the air. The roar of wide-open turbo-charged six and eight cylinder engines echoes into the stands as early fans trickle in to watch drivers evaluate the track and determine their dial-in time.
The competition is divided into three classes; Modified, Open, and Wide Open. Modified allows minor bolt-on improvements such as exhaust, air filters, intake and exhaust manifolds, injectors, and plug-in power chips like those developed by Edge. The basic fuel system and turbo remain stock. Open Class can include aftermarket turbos, modified fuel delivery systems, and injectors. Wide Open gets into major engine modifications, dual turbos, and alternative fuels such as methanol, nitrous oxide and propane.
Even a couple of years ago, it seems like quarter miles in the 14 to 15 second range were normal, with top speeds in the 80’s. Today, with technology provided by companies like Edge Products, quarter mile times of 11 and 12 seconds are common, with many top speeds well over 100 mph.
As I said, the vast majority of trucks at this event are Dodge Cummins, but there are some interesting entries from Ford, Chevy, and GMC owners. An exciting local favorite was the 1997 Ford F-350 built by Wide Open Performance and driven by Jerred Mattingley. This impressive 7.3 Power Stroke is an amazing job of engineering even a diehard Dodge owner can appreciate. With two monster Bell Power Turbos pumping through a 5-inch stack, NOS 2-stage injection boosts rear wheel horse power to around 900 and torque to 1,450 foot-pounds. This is the world’s quickest Power Stroke, with a record of 124 mph, doing the quarter mile in 10.83! This year it turned in the quickest time of the day, with an E.T. of 11.42 and a speed of 122 mph! But this event in not just about speed.
Weekend on the Edge is an interesting type of drag competition called bracket racing. During initial warm-up and qualifying runs, drivers decide the fastest elapsed time they think they can duplicate. For example, Kurt Steiner from Tooele, UT, entered his 1993 Dodge in the Open Class with a dial in time of 16.30, which was written on his windshield. During competition, he would try to duplicate that time, but not any faster. The closer he could come to that 16.30-second time without going under it, the better his chances to win. If he ran faster than 16.30, like maybe a 16.29, that would be breaking out, and would result in an automatic loss. His reaction time, the lapse in hundreds of a second between the instant the Christmas tree light turns green and the moment he trips the timing light, would be critical, because in the end, if neither vehicle breaks out, the winner is the one crossing the finish line first.
What all this comes down to is not just power and speed, but driver skill. To further complicate things, the timing lights are programmed to give each entry a handicap, based on their chosen dial-in time. This means that a really fast truck, like Robert Evans’ 04 Cummins from Sparks, NV, in the Wide Open Class, with a dial-in time of 12.00 seconds, will have a green light on the Christmas tree of a second later than the guy next to him with a dial-in time of 13.00 seconds. Remember, he’s trying to match that 12.00 E.T. without breaking out. As he speeds down the track, he can see the timing board. He must cross the finish line first to win, but if he sees he can easily pass the competition next to him, and he thinks that he will significantly beat his dial-in time, you will see his brake lights come on before the end of the quarter mile.
Is all that clear? There will be a short quiz at the end of this article. For more information on bracket racing, check out: http://www.musclecarclub.com/library/race/drag-racing-tips-bracket.shtml.
So, the race was on. In the final run for the Wide Open Class, Kyle Dudley in a 2001Power Stroke took top honors. Cliff Kano captured the prize in the Open Class with a 2005 Dodge. In the Modified Class, Karl Martin swept the field in a 1999 Power Stroke. It was an exciting afternoon; Fords, Chevys, GMCs, and Dodge Rams continued to battle it out as a tangerine sunset faded into the West.
Dyno Days
By 8:00 the next morning, trucks were already lining up at the Edge facilities in Ogden, Utah for the Weekend on the Edge Dyno Day. All Edge products are designed and assembled here, and two of their three dynamometers, a Mustang and a SuperFlow, were open to all diesel enthusiasts who wanted to see exactly what their machines could do. As usual, maybe seven out of ten trucks were Dodges. Dyno Day is a family event, with DJ music, a great complementary barbeque, and some of the most amazing diesel trucks you’ll see anywhere in the country. It’s a time for fellow diesel owners to lean over fenders and share information.
Among the most impressive of the show machines was the awesome diesel dragster by Wide Open Performance, sporting a slightly modified 7.3 Power Stroke engine, with four Bell turbos. Builder and driver, Zane Koch, hopes to take this rocket to a 6.9 quarter mile at 200 mph. Equally intriguing was Ken Jones’s Wild Diesel sledpulling 1942 Dodge WC53 Weapons Carrier. Its Cummins 5.9 diesel is topped by two huge turbos pumping up to 145 pounds of boost to produce 1,350 hp on regular diesel, and it’s street legal. The 50-caliber machine gun was optional.
While the crowd was drooling over the exhibition trucks and munching down gourmet burgers, the Edge crew was running the two dynos like a well-oiled assembly line. In the Modified Class, Wayne Owens’s 2003 Dodge reached 431 hp for the trophy. His modifications included Edge Juice with Attitude and full synthetic Amsoil. Not to anyone’s surprise, Mike Clunas turned in 542.1 hp in a 1999 Dodge to win the Open Class. Dave Sanders beat out Zane Koch with 971 hp in a 2007 Chevy for top honors in the Wide Open Class.
We chatted with a few of the other Cummins owners to find out their formula for power. Chris Hall brought his impressive Toxic Diesel 2006 Dodge 2500 MegaCab. The truck’s 5.9 Cummins starts with twin HTB turbos, and ends with Aero Turbine mufflers and MBRP stacks. Along the way, fuel flows through DDP90 injectors controlled by Diablo. HM head studs hold things together. This is a 600 hp engine. All that power gets to 37” Toyo Open Country tires on RBP wheels and through a custom Toxic Diesel RKL transmission and an ATS 5-Star converter.
Jud Niederer’s “Big Jud” Dodge was one of the combination show and performance trucks on display. His 2008 6.7 Cummins had a Volant intake and an MBRP exhaust. An Edge Juice with Attitude and Snow Performance water/methanol injection added some extra horses. Kore suspension made room for ProComp Extreme 35/12.50R18 tires on Lexani wheels.
Garrett Reed’s 1993 Ram Starts with a K&N air filter that feeds a 58mm Holset turbo and POD injectors. A Banks intercooler and Banks exhaust finish things off. Kelderman rear air suspension helps him pull a 40-foot car-hauler when he’s not racing.
Lindsey Yates was a fast lady, figuratively speaking. With a nickname like “Sledder Girl”, we knew what she does with her 2004 Dodge. A Stage-2 intake, FASS fueling, and 90-horse injectors, all helped along by an Edge chip and a 5” exhaust, gave her a respectable 413 hp on the dyno. She told us she loves trucks and power, and it lets her hang around the guys.
It was a memorable two-day event for everyone, and we’ll look forward to next year’s Weekend on the EDGE!
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Transfer Flow Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
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 In 1983, Transfer Flow, Inc. began operations with just 3,000 square feet of space and five employees. Now in its 25th year, the company employs 90 skilled craftsmen—35 of which have 10 years of seniority or more—and has grown to include two facilities with a total of over 70,000 square feet. “It seems like yesterday that we first opened the door and walked into our newly leased building,” recalls Transfer Flow president, Bill Gaines. “With five new employees, we had to find business right away. We immediately got on the phones and started cold calling. As it turned out, we made a profit in our second month of business, and we never looked back.”
Transfer Flow’s main business in the early years was producing fuel tanks for motorhome manufacturers. A few years later, Transfer Flow started designing aftermarket fuel systems, which accounted for 54% of its sales in 2007.
Family owned and operated, Transfer Flow manufactures aftermarket and OEM fuel tank systems, fuel fillneck kits, and tanks for hydraulic and generator applications. Transfer Flow plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a day-long barbecue for its employees and their families. Transfer Flow, Inc. (800) 442 0056; www.transferflow.com.
Our congratulations go out to long-term Turbo Diesel Register advertiser, Transfer Flow!
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Applied Rotor Technology
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Welcome to new advertiser, Applied Rotor Technology.
"I have owned two Dodge Diesel trucks for a total of 9 years and have loved everything about them except the brakes. My ’97 was used for towing and daily driving, and the brakes never worked well. I was replacing the rotors from heat damage more than once a year! My ’98 is now my daily driver as well as my drag-race truck. I use it in all conditions: on the drag strip where it runs 11.6’s at 117+ mph, in dyno competition putting out 700+ rwhp and 1200+tq, over mountain passes, towing, city and highway driving for a total of about 25,000 miles per year. I was in desperate need of a brake upgrade.
I heard about Applied Rotor Technologies through the Turbo Diesel Register, my best resource for what really works on these trucks. I spoke with Pad and ordered what I needed. We installed the new slotted rotors and pads over two years ago, and I’ve never looked back. Never have they overheated (try stopping a 6500lb truck going 118mph at the end of a drag strip!) or faded. Even the pads lasted well over a year. Believe me, I’m not nice to them even on the street!
I can honestly recommend Advanced Rotor Technology’s products to any other Dodge truck owner. They make a superior product and I personally believe there isn’t a better braking system for our trucks on the market.
”Rottin” Rhonda Kelly
TDR Member
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TST Products, Inc. - Columbus, IN
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 The Turbo Diesel Register is always looking for high-quality vendors to work with. From the very beginning, Mark and Gina Chapple, owners of TST Products, have worked hard to bring high-quality products to the diesel market. And we are proud to spotlight their company.
For those of you who have not have the good fortune to meet Mark and Gina, they own and operate TST Products, Inc. located at 7440 S. International Drive, Columbus, IN. They promise "more power in about an hour" for several makes of diesel engines.
TST designs, manufactures, tests, and markets power upgrades for turbo diesel engines used in many Dodge, Ford, and GM pickup trucks, motorhomes and medium trucks, plus heavy trucks with Caterpillar, Detroit and Cummins electronic diesels.
Their product line includes: performance upgrades for up to 200 additional horsepower and 600 ft lb of torque for ’89 – ‘07 Dodge Cummins trucks, gauges, filters, exhaust brakes, transmission parts, and clutches. Brand names offered include TST, Bosch, Cummins, Pacbrake, Fleetguard, Holset, ATS, Diesel Performance Products, Danin/Pricol, and many others.
"We extensively test all products before adding them to our product line; we do not want to sell anything that does not perform well for our customers."
The business was founded in 1995 by Mark Chapple, a former Cummins engineer with 33 years of service. Mark and Gina sold their first part at a diesel rally in July. 1996.
TST markets mainly by mail order and internet, and has approximately 500 dealers worldwide.
The owners and staff of TST Products, Inc. was proud to move into their current facility on International Drive, just southwest of Columbus, Indiana in 2001. Their business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Monday though Friday. Tell them you heard about them through the Turbo Diesel Register!
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