1 obvious advantage is a fuel that doesn't require additional octane to add timing or boost. The other is a very robust forged motor made for boost and tons of it. Oh, and they come from the factory with turbos already. So you're way ahead of the game there.
To be a top dog your going to spend a ton of cash, but you can run 11s in a 7.3 dinosaur with a way less than $10k into it. You can have a lot of fun in a diesel truck for $3k and beat most of what's out there. The transmissions are better now but not bulletproof, but everything else is usually up to the task.
They respond very well to nitrous, propane, methanol, water and just about anything else you can cram down the intake.
Stock diesel trucks are nothing to worry about, 16 and 17 second E/T quarter mile. However they can be made VERY fast much more easily than a gas rig. The one ton trucks come with gigantic axles, low gears, very heavy duty transfer cases, and decent transmissions that will gobble down 1000ftlb of torque with no issues and put every bit of it to the ground. Do with modest upgrades to the torque converter there isn't much reasonable limit to what the powertrains can handle.
So it comes down to the engine. Diesels work on detonation, so there is no amount of boat that will ever run you out of octane, more boost is more power as far as the turbo can go. Diesels have very long strokes and piston rings that will outlast the rest of the truck 10x over. The weaknesses of diesels start with the head gaskets, which usually require studs and o rings to make huge power, after this they need more turbo and fuel system to support the massive smoke blowing power outputs. At this point you're about 5-10k in engine mods and running 12s or better at the touch of a button, so WATCH OUT. It takes a pretty big jump from there to go much faster, 20-50k in mods on big turbo, big fuel, and custom tranny will net you 10s or better.
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." -Alexander Tytler
And if your curious, my dually has entry level mods, tuner, exhaust and CAI. I'm about $2g in mods and over 1000ftlb at the back wheels, I run 14s on the "evic" in an 8200lb mega cab.
My Chevy duramax runs lows 12's. Tons of mods but transmission upgrade is a must to make diesel power. Ive seen guys get a programer and use max power but then fry their trannys. Definitely torque monsters. Also for launch i do 4wd boost launch. I can take mostly anything off the line unless im lined up against a twin or turbo Jeep...lol
__________________ TODD..2006 JEEP SRT8 -- 4" Bwoody CAI, Borla S, Stant 18lb rad cap , Lips Harness, Toyo STII's 275/315, Jet 180 Stat, BT Catch Can, Diablo Predator, R1 Eline drilled and slotted front and rear rotors, Hawk ceramic pads, and tuned by TOONA...PB- 1/4 mile -12.82@106mph, PB- R/T-. 012
On the newer diesels once you remove all the emissions BS and do a full exhaust, an intake, etc there are tunes that will give you 200-300+hp boosts.
Hell, I have a 7.3L dinosaur and my chip will put me up to 140hp increase in the high setting.
__________________ Daniel C. - 08 SRT8
Challenger Hood-Flat Black Wheels-Tinted LED Tails/etc-Kicker-Eibach/RM-Bwoody Links-Arrington CAI & 90mm TB-P&P Intake Manifold-SP Manifold Spacers-PPP Pro Series Stage 1 Cam-PSI Springs-American Racing Headers-Mopar Exhaust-5" Tips-JerseyBoy CMR Tune-Trinity w/AFR-Vredesteins-Weathertechs-Lambo Green Wilwoods-SRT Moldings-Green LED Interior-Mopar Spoiler-Passport 9500ix-BT CC & Underhood-R1 Cryo'd Rotors
digging on an older thread but a guy at my college says hes got a 800 hp cummins that will beat my jeep. What quarter mile times do you think they are looking at at that power if hes not BS'n me and cost?
__________________ 08' front bumper swap, Blue interior LEDs, Bwoody 4" CAI, BT catch can, trinity 93 tune, Jet 180 Thermostat, 5000k HID lows/fogs, reverse HIDs, Borla S type cat back w/o resos, painted red calipers, DC custom headlights and LED switch backs, LED tail lights, 18% window tint, 275/315 tire setup
digging on an older thread but a guy at my college says hes got a 800 hp cummins that will beat my jeep. What quarter mile times do you think they are looking at at that power if hes not BS'n me and cost?
Hate to be the barer of bad news but if he does have 800hp he will in fact smoke your ass. On top of 800hp, he's making probably 1500-1700rwtq too. I used to be into diesels before I bought my Jeep. They can be flat out nasty and sleepy.
__________________ I'm not speeding, I'm datalogging! (Rdrdr90)
2006 300SRT8 LMI Intake, Borla S Cat Back, JB Tune
2007 GCSRT8 Stage 6 Motorsports Single 94mm Turbo LPM Forged 6.1L 10.41@140 wastegate only 9.51@153 Race tune 1.60 60'
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