Power Driven Podcast

• Inside Power Driven Diesel Shop Builds

  We took a slammed short bed second gen Dodge that used to blow the tires off in overdrive and turned it into a four wheel drive street truck that rips no prep airstrips and accidentally does four wheel drive burnouts. What started as a 12 valve five speed Shorty evolved through an auto swap and a clean common rail conversion that made 1,061 horsepower on its first dyno event, grew into compound turbos, broke parts, got better parts, and finally landed where it needed to be all along, four wheel drive and actually usable on sketchy surfaces.This episode of the Power Driven Podcast tells the story of the Shorty, a truck that went from a chopped two wheel drive hot rod to a Duramax chassis swapped Cummins that can finally hook on the street. The guys share how the build came together, from cutting down frames and moving torsion bar mounts to dealing with CV axles pulling apart when the front end was lowered. These are the little challenges that only come from real shop time, and solving them made the truck ride right without losing its daily manners.On track the results speak for themselves. With a Power Driven Diesel Aggressor 98 over a 467 compound setup, the Shorty went 7.12 in the eighth mile on its first solid pass, cutting a 1.66 sixty foot on a no prep surface. Later it even raced eliminations in the rain and ran a 7.33 against a fast F-150, something it could never have done back when it spun all the way down the track as a two wheel drive. Now it leaves straight, carries speed, and does it with a full interior and street friendly setup that you can still drive every day.The crew also shares updates on pushing the limits of block strength. After breaking more than a few 12 valve and 5.9 Cummins blocks, testing has shifted to a 6.7 base under a 12 valve head. Welding coolant passages, experimenting with girdles, and chasing fuel only horsepower in the 1500 range shows how far development has come. The focus is always on real power that lasts, with parts anyone can buy and run on their own builds.If you are into diesel performance, Cummins builds, dyno testing, drag racing, turbo upgrades, and truck builds that prove themselves on and off the track, this episode is for you. Subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast, follow for more episodes, and check out Power Driven Diesel for the tech, tuning, and parts that keep this community moving forward.

  --------  

  55:06

  --------

  55:06
• Do VGT Turbos Work for Compounds?

  Nothing changes a diesel like a turbo, and in this episode of the Power Driven Podcast the crew digs into the setups that make the biggest difference.The guys cover it all, from simple single turbos to massive big frame upgrades and compound builds that completely change the way a truck drives. They are not guessing or repeating internet myths. This is real shop experience backed up by dyno pulls, towing miles, and years of pushing trucks to their limits.You will hear how chargers like the Aggressor 98 and GT55 open the door to huge top end power, why compound turbos are proving themselves on more than just race trucks, and what makes variable geometry setups either a solid choice or a constant headache. Every point ties back to how the truck feels in real life, whether you are towing heavy, daily driving, or looking for that edge at the track.The takeaway is clear. The right turbo setup can turn an ordinary truck into a clean, powerful, and reliable machine that is simply more fun to drive. The wrong setup will waste your time and money.If you care about diesel performance, dyno results, turbo upgrades, and truck builds that actually work, this episode is for you. Subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast and follow Power Driven Diesel for more no-nonsense talk, proven parts, and results you can count on.

  --------  

  56:47

  --------

  56:47
• Why Mechanical Diesels Still Compete Against Common Rail

  Mechanical pumps are making a comeback, and this episode proves they still have a place even as common rail dominates diesel racing.This episode of the Power Driven Podcast features our crew with special guest John Schirado from Black Tie Race Fab. John is a seasoned racer and fabricator who helped build the Godfather race truck, and he joins us to debate mechanical pump trucks versus modern common rail setups. It’s a back and forth that matters for anyone in diesel performance because it digs into what it really takes to build, tune, and race at a high level.John shares why he has stuck with a mechanical truck for more than twenty years even though common rail offers easier tuning and consistency. For him it’s about the challenge and the satisfaction of making old school fueling work in today’s competitive scene. We dive into why part selection is everything on a pump truck. Injectors, pump profile, turbo choice, and gear train all have to be perfectly matched because unlike common rail there’s no laptop tune to smooth things out.The crew also talks about nitrous, automation, and why consistent 60 foot times are the key to winning. John explains how his setup still relies on timers and hand controlled switches while many racers are moving toward bump boxes, staging limiters, and automated nitrous control. That leads to a bigger discussion on how mechanical trucks can adopt some of that tech without losing their raw hands on feel.Reliability is another big topic. We cover how 12 valve blocks can split around 1500 horsepower, why 6.7 blocks hold up better, and how custom gear cases with straight cut gears become mandatory at the top levels. These are the kinds of hard lessons you only learn from years of racing, wrenching, and breaking parts at the track.If you’re into diesel performance, Cummins drag racing, Power Driven Diesel, P pump setups, dyno testing, turbo upgrades, and truck builds that push the limits, this episode delivers real shop floor wisdom and racing stories you won’t want to miss.Subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast and follow Power Driven Diesel for more episodes, dyno sessions, and builds that keep the diesel community moving forward.

  --------  

  1:05:13

  --------

  1:05:13
• Building a 1,000HP 6.0 Power Stroke That Still Tows

  This episode of the Power Driven Podcast brings in guest John Schirado of Black Tie Race Fab to stir the pot and talk real-world six liter Powerstroke performance with the crew while Will is out of town. From shop banter and fabrication chops to why some folks swear the 6.0 was peak diesel engineering, we get into what actually matters for reliability, towing manners, and going fast. If you’ve ever argued brand loyalty in the bay or on the starting line, this one hits home.You’ll hear how John’s six liter became the perfect antithesis to a common rail first mindset. He’s towed to races, clicked off multiple seven-one passes, and then hooked the trailer back up to head home. The guys stack that experience against a 6.7 Cummins build and talk about what changes when you rely on high pressure oil to fire injectors. They dig into why monitoring is everything on these trucks, covering FICM voltage targets, oil pressure behavior, and IPR duty cycle so you can spot issues before they strand you. They also talk head studs and O-rings, why the 14 millimeter hardware and stout bedplate are big wins for the platform, and how a well set up compound arrangement with the factory VGT on the manifold and a big charger out front keeps the truck happy at altitude and under load.There’s plenty of street and strip reality too. Meyer shares a 7.12 airport drag pass in his own project and John fires back with times from his tow pig, which trap-calculated to the high nine hundreds. That sets up a practical discussion about converters, stall speed, and why density altitude changes everything when you live and race in the Rockies. The crew also gets into cab-off service myths, why six liters aren’t actually miserable to work on when you know the platform, and the never-ending debate over Excursions, chassis feel, and what makes a true work family hauler. By the end, you’ll understand why a cleanly tuned six liter with the right heads, studs, compounds, and monitoring can be both a dependable tow rig and a legitimate race truck.Long-tail topics you’ll hear discussed include six liter Powerstroke compound turbo setup with factory VGT, FICM voltage monitoring at 48 to 49 volts, IPR duty cycle and high pressure oil troubleshooting, Ford Excursion diesel towing reliability, and head stud and O-ring strategies for six liter longevity. It’s the kind of shop-floor conversation that makes you want to roll a cart under the truck and start wrenching.Subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast, follow for more deep dives, and check out the latest builds, testing, and parts from Power Driven Diesel. More shop debates, more dyno pulls, and more hard data are on the way.

  --------  

  1:07:51

  --------

  1:07:51
• Building the Perfect Tow Rig for Diesel Performance

  This episode of the Power Driven Podcast is all about the ultimate working man’s tow trucks. After one of our listeners suggested it, the crew sat down to dive into the tow rigs we use to haul race trucks, trailers, and everything in between. These aren’t dealership stock trucks, they’re purpose built, hard working rigs that blur the line between daily hauler and performance build. Towing is a huge part of what we do, and when you’re moving 20,000 to 30,000 pounds through mountain passes, the right setup makes all the difference.Todd kicks things off with his well known 2006 Mega Cab Dodge 2500, which has seen everything from drag racing to hauling triple axle trailers. Under the hood is a 6.7 block with upgraded rods, cam, ported head, dual CP3s, and 200% over DDP injectors. His compound setup pairs a 467.7 over a brand new Aggressor 98mm turbo, testing a kit that’s just about to release. Backing it all up is a 1500 horsepower transmission that’s as fun as it is reliable, complete with the kind of shifter that even gets cops asking questions.Meyer breaks down his 6.7 truck with a 68RFE six speed. It runs compounds with a new VGT 63mm turbo paired with a 480, plus a billet actuator that’s proven to be a game changer for both reliability and exhaust braking. His hot street build makes towing look easy, even when he’s dragging 30,000 plus pounds up long grades. The six speed lockup strategy and added transmission cooling keep everything smooth and in check.Will joins in with the low power tow rig of the group, but don’t be fooled, his truck still runs a new PD charger and tows like a champ, even at 300,000 miles on the factory head bolts. He shares how sway bars, upgraded brakes, and a weight distribution hitch transformed his trailer handling, making towing safer and more stable in crosswinds and traffic.Along the way, the guys get real about what matters most in a tow truck. Yes, power is fun, especially when you’re blowing past campers and even the occasional Kia on a mountain pass, but brakes, suspension, and cooling upgrades are what keep you safe when towing heavy. From airbags and sway bars to big brake kits and onboard air systems, they cover the essentials every diesel enthusiast should think about before hitting the road with serious weight behind them.If you’re into diesel performance, Power Driven Diesel, Cummins engines, dyno testing, turbo upgrades, drag racing, and real world truck builds, this episode is packed with insight you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re daily driving a third gen, fine tuning a 68RFE, or dreaming of compound turbos for your tow rig, there’s something here for every diesel enthusiast.Make sure you subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast and follow along for more episodes featuring shop talk, truck builds, dyno results, and racing stories. Check out Power Driven Diesel for more content, products, and performance upgrades to make your truck tow, race, and perform better than ever.

  --------  

  47:23

  --------

  47:23

More Leisure podcasts

Trending Leisure podcasts

About Power Driven Podcast

Power Driven Podcast: Podcasts in Family