Although most diesel owners on this site are of the mindset that any added power will damage an engine and they will probably never push their engine to these power levels, there might be a few here that will. Here are some pretty interesting articles on just how much the stock internals of each generation of the different brands can handle along with their weak points. If anything, they are good read when sitting in the out house.Note that the article on the Cummins isn't out yet and I will post it when it is available. Also note that good custom tuning with tools like EFI Live can make a huge difference on how much an engine can handle versus "canned" tuners like Bully Dog and Edge . Getting the fuel map settings and cylinder pressures right from a reputable tuner can allow a 500+ rwhp diesel last for hundreds of thousands of miles. BREAKING POINT: HOW MUCH HP CAN YOUR POWER STROKE’S STOCK HARDWARE HANDLE?BREAKING POINT: HOW MUCH CAN YOUR DURAMAX HANDLE?

ShinerBock wrote:Although most diesel owners on this site are of the mindset that any added power will damage an engine and they will probably never push their engine to these power levels, there might be a few here that will. Here are some pretty interesting articles on just how much the stock internals of each generation of the different brands can handle along with their weak points. If anything, they are good read when sitting in the out house.Note that the article on the Cummins isn't out yet and I will post it when it is available. Also note that good custom tuning with tools like EFI Live can make a huge difference on how much an engine can handle versus "canned" tuners like Bully Dog and Edge . Getting the fuel map settings and cylinder pressures right from a reputable tuner can allow a 500+ rwhp diesel last for hundreds of thousands of miles. BREAKING POINT: HOW MUCH HP CAN YOUR POWER STROKE’S STOCK HARDWARE HANDLE?BREAKING POINT: HOW MUCH CAN YOUR DURAMAX HANDLE?Now for articles on how to make a tranny that can handle the additional power. Ford TorqueShift may have a leg up there. Alison 1000 needs a lot of help.And I would note that this is the tow vehicle section, not the hot rod truck section. Anyone that wants to modify one of these newest gen trucks has a heck of a lot more money to throw around than I do.

Good articles. Thanks for the link. Efi live for the win! The reason there isn't a Cummins article is they can't find the breaking point. Too strong.

Transmission is typically the first thing to go on a tuned diesel. Motors themselves are fairly de-tuned in factory form and can handle a lot more.

I have seen many many cummins engine with 1,200hp and 0ver 2,000lb ft with stock bottom end.

Me Again wrote:Now for articles on how to make a tranny that can handle the additional power. Ford TorqueShift may have a leg up there. Alison 1000 needs a lot of help.And I would note that this is the tow vehicle section, not the hot rod truck section. Anyone that wants to modify one of these newest gen trucks has a heck of a lot more money to throw around than I do.There are people here, myself included, that do modify their tow vehicles. I have modified just about everyone of my tow vehicles from my old 94' 12 valve to my current 14' 6.7L, and it wasn't necessarily done for hot roding. It was done to make the vehicle customized to my preferences and a better all around tow vehicle. I had to up the power in my old 94' just so that I wouldn't loose speed going up some of the mountain roads when towing my 10k trailer. Since then, what I tow has increased in weight and mass so the power needed to tow to preferences has increased as well. Some are fine with towing 14k up an 8 mile mountain road only being able to do 40 mph, I am not one of them. To each their own.For those that do not prefer to modify their vehicles (due to monetary or warranty reasons) then articles or threads like this are not for them and a simple click of the "back" button will get them out of wasting anymore of their (and other people's) time.

Breaking point: How much power can your diesel handle?

S_Davis
Explorer
Sep 13, 2017
FishOnOne wrote:
S Davis wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
S Davis wrote:
Our 09 CCSB Duramax has been at 530hp to the wheels so over 600hp at the crank since 2014, stock engine except for a lift pump and EFI Live.

I bet she sounds good too. I love the way a dirtymax sounds with a good exhaust when it comes to life at startup. :B

She will run a 12.95 in the quarter as long as you do your part.

I watched your video's of your truck running the qtr mile and was very impressed. :C

Thanks, the wife is the driver and she took the truck to the NHRA Division 6 championships two years in a row.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Sep 13, 2017
S Davis wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
S Davis wrote:
Our 09 CCSB Duramax has been at 530hp to the wheels so over 600hp at the crank since 2014, stock engine except for a lift pump and EFI Live.

I bet she sounds good too. I love the way a dirtymax sounds with a good exhaust when it comes to life at startup. :B

She will run a 12.95 in the quarter as long as you do your part.

I watched your video's of your truck running the qtr mile and was very impressed. :C
S_Davis
Explorer
Sep 13, 2017
transamz9 wrote:
S Davis wrote:
Our 09 CCSB Duramax has been at 530hp to the wheels so over 600hp at the crank since 2014, stock engine except for a lift pump and EFI Live.

I bet she sounds good too. I love the way a dirtymax sounds with a good exhaust when it comes to life at startup. :B

She will run a 12.95 in the quarter as long as you do your part.
transamz9
Explorer
Sep 12, 2017
S Davis wrote:
Our 09 CCSB Duramax has been at 530hp to the wheels so over 600hp at the crank since 2014, stock engine except for a lift pump and EFI Live.

I bet she sounds good too. I love the way a dirtymax sounds with a good exhaust when it comes to life at startup. :B
S_Davis
Explorer
Sep 12, 2017
Our 09 CCSB Duramax has been at 530hp to the wheels so over 600hp at the crank since 2014, stock engine except for a lift pump and EFI Live.
DustyR
Explorer
Sep 12, 2017
It all depends on how large your wallet is. I have pushed my 08 Duramax hard on occasion. I have available a 120 HP over stock tune and haven't used it simply because when I get into that region I'm restricting the Allison Trans to 4th gear and tow-haul mode. The problem is not the power, getting the HP to the ground and keeping it hooked up is. The Allison Trans is the weakest link and when the ECM starts pausing the fuel to allow a gear change is when I draw the line and say I don't really want to spend $6000 and up on a transmission rebuild.
blt2ski
Moderator
Sep 12, 2017
Saw a boat the other day with twin 370 HP 6.5 GM diesels in it! Another the sales group claimed their were two 350HP 6.5 duramax motors in it! LOL!

Penninsular diesel in Michigan has been taking some of the V8 diesels and getting some semi crazy HP out of some of them.......Then some folks put the motor in land based yachts........

As noted, the real issue can be other components, along with the GM 6.5's case, COOLING! Been there did that done that one!

Marty
FishOnOne
Nomad
Sep 11, 2017
1stgenfarmboy wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
1stgenfarmboy wrote:
My old Dodge has a few mods.

60mm/16cm hybrid Gillett turbo
monster intercooler
3 inch stainless cooler tubs
masive fuel system
carter 4601 pump
DDP fuel pin
3500 rpm governor spring
tuned AFC
VE injection pump cranked up to the hilt
DDP 4 injectors
timming turned up
5 inch exaust
John Deere combine air filter
HD trans with Goerend converter and shift kit deep B&M pan

the last one is what it takes to hold all the rest of them.

started out life as a 160hp/400lb ft
now its 360hp/750 lbft dynod

You must have done some recent improvements. I thought I read your last HP was 345.

Yes sir tweeked the afc tune and ran it again, gained a few horse.

Well done...
1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Sep 11, 2017
FishOnOne wrote:
1stgenfarmboy wrote:
My old Dodge has a few mods.

60mm/16cm hybrid Gillett turbo
monster intercooler
3 inch stainless cooler tubs
masive fuel system
carter 4601 pump
DDP fuel pin
3500 rpm governor spring
tuned AFC
VE injection pump cranked up to the hilt
DDP 4 injectors
timming turned up
5 inch exaust
John Deere combine air filter
HD trans with Goerend converter and shift kit deep B&M pan

the last one is what it takes to hold all the rest of them.

started out life as a 160hp/400lb ft
now its 360hp/750 lbft dynod

You must have done some recent improvements. I thought I read your last HP was 345.

Yes sir tweeked the afc tune and ran it again, gained a few horse.
Edd505
Explorer
Sep 09, 2017
DiskDoctr wrote:
Edd505 wrote:
Can we all just get along? - Rodney King 1992

Spoken after he led police on a high speed chase through residential areas, endangering families, children, etc. Not his first runin with the law, either. :(

His run in was 1991 his statement was after the trial acquitted the officers and LA riots started.