Here's a Readers' Diesels sneak peak. If you'd like to get your truck featured send us your specifications using the format you see in the magazine. Also send a high res image 1.0mb or bigger. Email to: Jason.Thompson@sorc.com
Year make model - 2004 Dodge Ram 2500
Owner - Jason Kauffman
Hometown - Rexford MT
Engine - 5.9 Common rail Cummins (rebored to 6.1)
Programer chip box - Smarty Revo
Turbo - HTT 62-13-71
Lift Pump - FASS 150 gph
Exhaust - Banks 4" turbo back
Transmission - ATS
Suspension - Stock except for Rancho shocks and steering stabilizers
Wheels and tires - Eagle 20" rims with 275/65/R20 Hancook Dynopro's
Other - Way too much to list......
I've been a die hard diesel fan since I was a teenager. The first time I heard of a performance diesel I was hooked. The idea that someone could take a work truck and tune it up grabbed me in a second. My dad and I ran a business together that involved a lot of towing heavy loads. We used Chevy trucks with the old faithful 454 gasser until in 98 we got our first diesel, a 1997 Dodge ton dually reg cab.
We were both hooked and over the years we have owned 8 different dodge diesels. 2 - 1993s 1 -97, 1 -02, 1 -03, 1 -04, and 2 -06s. The 02, 03, and both 06s were bought new. My personal pickup is the 04 and I have over 320K miles on it. We bought it used with 15k on it. I use my truck every day. Shortly after we got it I installed a Banks 6 gun and then the power bug bit hard. It took time and a few years but eventually I got to where I am now. I have a perfect daily driver that still is a blast to drive and gets good fuel economy. I have a pretty good performance truck that is still a working mans truck. I ran the Banks till around 245k I tried stacking a Smarty with the banks and blew an injector tip off and messed up the cylinder a bit. After a bit of research I took the truck to Lloyd Mills from Mid Atlantic Diesel in MD and had him pull the engine and do a full rebuild from the bottom up. Rebored the cylinders to a 6.1 L and put bigger pistons in. Put studs in and re-tuned the 100hp marine injectors I had in it already. Then a PDI manifold and an HTT turbo topped it off. I had over the years changed out the stock airflow components till every part of the whole airflow process was after market. Banks intake, intercooler, high ram and turbo back straight 4" pipe and muffler from Banks. Well the Banks tuner had issues with the bigger turbo so I took it all out and simply ran my Smarty alone. I had a bit of a bad experience with stacking so I left that alone. I also changed out the stock tranny at 145k to a full swap out from ATS plus a triple disc torque converter. 75k later it grenaded on me and ATS stuck to their word and replaced it. Without going into more detail, I have worked on the truck from end to end and know pretty much everything about it by now. The one thing I did over the years was keep it stock looking except for the exhaust tip and vanity plate.
Well after moving out here to MT I hit 4 deer in a bit over 2 years. That finished me and the last time I took the insurance money and by doing most of the work myself I was able to get the look I have now without busting the bank. When I was looking at all the black trim I had I decided to keep the replacement hood black like it came in. (The last time I messed up the hood and grill by hitting a tree at slow speeds) The body shop guy thought I was crazy but after a bit of thought I decided to stick to it. Well I never saw anybody else doing this before on a truck but the response was great from everyone that saw it. Now I get the last issue of DP and on the cover is a truck with a black hood.. lol.... Well that persuaded me to send in my "readers ride." I'd be super thrilled to have my truck in those pages. I bought the first news stand issue you people published and subscribed right away. I still have every issue I believe. It's the only subscription I have that gets read cover to cover pretty much every time. Thanks for the great job.
By the way, If you ever want to do an article on a common man's working truck that doesn't bust the bank, I'd love to be a featured truck owner. I know you get a lot of stuff across your desk and I'm lucky to even be read I guess but just a thought.
My truck Dynoed at 531 RWHP and 1013 RWTRQU on fuel alone. Never had any additives like NOS or water meth. In daily driving around town here in MT I get around 16 mpg. Towing my 20' 6k car hauler/tool trailer I get around 12. On a recent trip back east to NY I drove like grandma and averaged just under 22 mpg for over a thousand miles. That was real world checking with a calculater every tank. One of the best things I did for milage was 20" rims with 275/65/R20s @ 80 psi and Dyna Trac free spin front lockouts These two combined made a bit over 3 mpg difference.. Total cost of what I put into the truck over the course of 6-7 years is about $18-$20 K. That's a lot less then most truck payments and I figured it was cheap because a new truck costs twice that and I have a basically bullet proof truck now.
I have pages more I could write of all I learned from my trucks over the years but I won't bore you all. Just would love to see my ride in the pages some day. It would make my year.... Grins.
Thanks for your time,
Jason K
PS
I live in Rexford Montana and am a construction contractor as my pics will show.
Mods include but not limited to Rebore to 6.1, FASS 150, ATS tranny and torque converter, 100 hp marine injectors, Complete Banks air flow replacement, HTT 62-13-71, Stock suspension, Thuren trac bar, Rancho shocks with dual steering stabilizers, Eagle rims, Iron Bull bumper, Leather interior, etc etc....