Truck Tech Builds
Want more content like this?
Join the PowerNation Email NewsletterParts Used In This Episode
Centimark
QuestMark, a Division of CentiMark Corporation, is a leading provider of polished concrete and epoxy floor systems to the industrial, commercial and retail markets.
Prestone
Prestone DOT 3 Synthetic Hi-Temp Brake Fluid
RevMax Torque Converters
Dodge AS69RC 3500 4500 5500 Signature Rebuilt Transmission 2013-2016
Episode Transcript
(NARRATOR)>> TODAY WE CRACK THE CASE ON HIGH PERFORMANCE TRANSMISSIONS AND SEE WHAT GOES INTO WINNING ET'S. PLUS IT'S MAD MAX REVISITED WITH A LOOK AT THE WORLD'S HEAVIES MOTORSPORT. ONE THAT RATTLES YOUR INNARDS. [ engine revving ]
(LT)>> WE'VE BEEN MAKING REALLY GOOD HEADWAY ON OUR 2016 RAM HIGH PERFORMANCE DIESEL BUILD. WE'VE ALREADY ADDED A WHOLE BUNCH OF GO FAST PARTS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD BUT TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS. IF YOU'D HAVE ORDERED THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. THE FIRST IS THE G-56 SIX SPEED MANUAL. THE SECOND IS THE CHRYSLER 68-RFE SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND THE THIRD IS THIS, THEY AISIN SEIKI AS-69-RC, WHICH IS ALSO A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC. AT STOCK POWER LEVELS IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY STRONG TRANSMISSION, BUT WE PLAN ON MORE THAN DOUBLING THE POWER FROM THIS CUMMINS. SO NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE STOCK TRANSMISSION IS IT'S JUST NOT GONNA HOLD UP TO WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED. THIS IS A REV MAX SIGNATURE SERIES REBUILT TRANSMISSION. RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE IT'S BEEN DESIGNED TO HOLD IN EXCESS OF 800 HORSEPOWER, AND IT'S NOT JUST YOUR AVERAGE REBUILT TRANSMISSION EITHER. IT'S BEEN COMPLETELY ENGINEERED FROM END TO END AND A LOT OF THE HARD PARTS HAVE ACTUALLY JUST BEEN THROWN OUT AND REPLACED WITH UPGRADED BILLET PARTS THAT WILL HOLD ADDITIONAL CLUTCHES. NOW IT COMES WITH THEIR STAGE FIVE SIX DISC TORQUE CONVERTER THAT'S BEEN RATED AT AN ADDITIONAL 120 PERCENT CAPACITY OVER STOCK. WE ALSO CHOSE TO UPGRADE TO THEIR BRAND NEW REV MAX BILLET FLEX PLATE FOR THE AS-69. THIS WILL TRANSFER ALL THE POWER FROM THAT CUMMINS ENGINE INTO THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT CRACKING LIKE THE FACTORY STAMPED FLEX PLATES ARE KNOWN TO DO. NOW WE GOT OURS POWDER COATED IN "ILLUSION CHERRY" TO MATCH THE THEME THAT WE HAVE GOING ON UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND WITH THE REST OF THE TRUCK. SO THIS THING LOOKS AMAZING FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT WITH ANY HIGH PERFORMANCE PART IT'S NOT WHAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE, IT'S WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS. GUYS THIS IS FRANK FROM REV MAX. HOW ARE YOU MAN?
(FRANK)>> HEY, NICE TO MEET YOU.
(LT)>> GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU BROUGHT US A WHOLE BUNCH OF PARTS THAT GO INSIDE THE AS-69. FIRST OF ALL TELL ME ABOUT REV MAX AND WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
(FRANK)>> SO AT REV MAX WE MANUFACTURE HIGH PERFORMANCE DIESEL TRANSMISSIONS AND TORQUE CONVERTERS. WE START BY TAKING APART A BRAND NEW FACTORY TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. ANALYZING WEAK POINTS, AND THEN REENGINEER THAT TRANSMISSION TO MAKE IT HOLD EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF HORSEPOWER.
(LT)>> ALL RIGHT, I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT. SPEAKING OF FACTORY PARTS I SEE YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF ONES OVER HERE THAT LOOK LIKE MAYBE THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT WORN OUT. TELL ME ABOUT THOSE AND WHAT YOU DO TO REPLACE IT.
(FRANK)>> YEAH SO LET'S START WITH THE KTWO CLUTCH HUB. THE KTWO CLUTCH HUB IN THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION IS NOTORIOUS FOR SPLINE WEAR.
(LT)>> YEAH IT'S GOUGED UP PRETTY BAD THERE.
(FRANK)>> YEAH, SO THIS GUY IS ABOUT READY TO FAIL ANY DAY NOW. WE TAKE THE FACTORY DESIGN AND WE MAKE IT A LOT BETTER. WE MAKE IT THICKER. WE HAVE A LONGER CLUTCH SPLINE LENGTH, AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE CAN GO FROM FIVE FRICTIONS UP TO EIGHT FRICTIONS IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
(LT)>> AND WHAT MATERIAL IS THIS?
(FRANK)>> THIS IS A 41-40 HEAT TREATED STRESS RELEASE STEEL.
(LT)>> OKAY, THIS IS A DRUM. WHAT'S THE STORY ON THAT?
(FRANK)>> ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS OUR BILLET KTHREE CLUTCH DRUM, AND THIS CLUTCH DRUM ALLOWS US TO RUN EIGHT FRICTIONS VERSUS THE FACTORY FIVE. IT'S MADE OUT OF 41-40 STEEL AGAIN, AND IS ACTUALLY THICKER IN EVERY AREA. SO IT WON'T STRESS AND FATIGUE LIKE THE FACTORY ONE DOES, AND THIS DESIGNED WAS DESIGNED BY US IN HOUSE BY OUR ENGINEERS.
(LT)>> OKAY, SO BILLET REPLACEMENT, STRONGER, AND THEY HOLD MORE CLUTCHES. NOW I KNOW THIS IS A PISTON. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS?
(FRANK)>> ALL RIGHT, SO THIS PISTON IS THE KTWO CLUTCH PISTON, AND THIS PISTON IS NOTORIOUS FOR CRACKING. SO IF THIS CRACKS YOUR TRANNY GOES WITH IT. SO WE'VE REDESIGNED THAT OUT OF BILLET ALUMINUM, AND THEN THIS PISTON WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO RUN NINE FRICTIONS VERSUS THE FACTORY SIX FRICTIONS.
(LT)>> AND I GUESS MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE WHOLE PUZZLE IS THE CONVERTER. THIS FACTORY ONE HOLDS THREE FRICTION DISCS, WHICH I KNOW IS ACTUALLY A LOT MORE THAN THE DURAMAX. THOSE GUYS ARE RUNNING A SINGLE CLUTCH FROM THE FACTORY, BUT YOU'RE RUNNING SIX. TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
(FRANK)>> YEAH SO THIS CONVERTER WAS A DECENT BUILD TO START WITH, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S ALSO FAILED AS WELL. SO AT REV MAX WE WENT AHEAD AND DESIGNED A SIX FRICTION CONVERTER. IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, AND WE HAVE NEVER FOUND THIS CONVERTER TO FAIL YET. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW IT HAS AN UNLIMITED HORSEPOWER RATING ON IT. WE HAVE A LARGER DIAMETER FRICTION DISC. WE HAVE A MORE AGGRESSIVE FRICTION DISC, AND THE BEST PART IS IT'S HOUSING A ONE PIECE BILLET FRONT COVER. THIS COVER STARTS OUT AS A SOLID 300 PLUS POUND CHUNK OF STEEL THAT WE MACHINE DOWN TO 50 POUNDS WHEN WE'RE ALL DONE WITH IT.
(LT)>> WELL I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT. WE'LL CERTAINLY DO OUR BEST TO TEST THE LIMIT OF IT. WHAT DO YOU SAY, YOU WANT TO HELP US BOLT THIS THING IN? GET A LITTLE DIRTY TODAY?
(FRANK)>> I THINK I'LL PASS MAN.
(LT)>> ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU FOR THE PARTS. WE APPRECIATE IT, AND WE'LL SEE YOU AROUND.
(FRANK)>> THANKS MAN.
(NARRATOR)>> LATER, FEEL THE SHAKE, BUT NEXT THE DUALLY GETS ITS NEW GEARBOX.
(LT)>> WHEN REMOVING AND INSTALLING A TRANSMISSION IN ANY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP THE STEPS WERE MOSTLY THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHICH BRAND OF TRUCK YOU HAVE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE FLUIDS OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TO RETURN YOUR CORE. THE FIRST MAJOR PART TO BE REMOVED IS THE TRANSFER CASE. HEY BUDDY.
(MIKE)>> HEY MAN.
(LT)>> IT'S USUALLY MADE FROM ALUMINUM. SO IT'S NOT TOO HEAVY, JUST KIND OF BULKY AND AWKWARD. THE SHIFTER CABLE AND BRACKET ARE REMOVED, AND THE WIRING HARNESSES HAVE TO BE UNPLUGGED, AND ON ANY AUTOMATIC TRANS THERE WILL BE SOME COOLER LINES THAT MUST BE DISCONNECTED. SO THE NEXT STEP IS REMOVE THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FLEX PLATE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. NOW THAT BASICALLY INVOLVES TURNING THE ENGINE OVER SLOWLY UNTIL ALL THE BOLTS APPEAR IN THE ACCESS WINDOW. A BIG CUMMINS LIKE THIS IS PRETTY HARD TO TURN OVER, BUT WE HAVE THIS NIFTY LITTLE TOOL FROM MATCO. IT ENGAGES INTO A SECOND HOLE IN THE BELL HOUSING AND IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A STARTER, AND THAT'S FOR GOOD REASON, AND BECAUSE IT ENGAGES WITH THE RING GEAR ON THE FLEX PLATE. ALL YOU DO IS POP A THREEEIGHTHS RATCHET IN AND IT ALLOWS YOU TO EASILY AND QUICKLY TURN OVER THE ENGINE. AND YOU CAN EASILY SPIN THE ENGINE WITH ONE HAND, GIVING EASY ACCESS TO REMOVE ALL SIX CONVERTER BOLTS. NOW ALL THAT'S LEFT ARE THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BELL HOUSING TO THE ENGINE, AND THE AS-69 IS SEPARATED. AND THE FLEX PLATE IS THE LAST STOCK PART TO BE REMOVED. [ drill spinning ]
(LT)>> OUR RAM SPENT ITS ENTIRE LIFE AT A FACTORY POWER LEVEL. SO THE STOCK FLEX PLATE IS JUST FINE FOR NOW, BUT THIS IS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE TRIED TO PUT 500 TO 600 HORSEPOWER THROUGH IT. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IT'S CRACKED RIGHT AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE RIGHT AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOLT HOLES. SO THIS TRUCK WOULDN'T BE GOING ANYWHERE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING THE TIME TO UPGRADE TO THE REV MAX BILLET FLEX PLATE FOR THE AS-69. WE'RE GOING TO BE REUSING THE ORIGINAL HARDWARE, BUT IT GETS A QUICK DAB OF THREAD LOCKER, AND THE BOLTS ARE TORQUED TO SPEC IN A CRISS CROSS PATTERN.
NOW THERE'S A FEW STEPS THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT SKIP WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING A CONVERTER INTO A TRANSMISSION FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THAT IS PREFILLING IT WITH FLUID. NOW IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS WHEN YOU FIRST START UP A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION TO PUMP FLUID AND FILL UP THE CONVERTER. SO YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THOSE FIRST COUPLE SECONDS WITH IT COMPLETELY DRY. NOW YOU DON'T NEED MUCH. JUST MAYBE A QUART OR SO IS ALL YOU NEED.
WE'VE SHOWN YOU THIS BEFORE BUT REMEMBER, THERE ARE ALWAYS THREE SOLID CLUNKS TO LISTEN FOR, WHICH WILL TELL YOU THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS FULLY ENGAGED. WE'RE IN! WITH THE REV MAX AS-69 ON THE TRANS JACK, IT EASILY SLIPS BACK UP INTO ITS NEW HOME BEHIND OUR SIXSEVEN CUMMINS.
AND THE FACTORY HARDWARE CONNECTS THE TWO. ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS YOU WANT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN INSTALLING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION LIKE THIS. FIRST IF YOU HAVE A BILLET TORQUE CONVERTER LIKE WE DO, DO NOT REUSE THE ORIGINAL FLEX PLATE BOLTS. IT WILL COME WITH SOME NEW SHORTER ONES. IF YOU DO RUN IN AND TORQUE DOWN THE LONGER BOLTS YOU WILL DAMAGE THAT BRAND NEW CONVERTER. ALSO, AFTER YOU'VE STARTED THE TRUCK UP AND TOPPED OFF THE FLUID YOU NEED TO GET A SCAN TOOL AND RESET THE ADAPTIVE SHIFTING IN THE TCM. THIS WILL ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO RELEARN THE FLUID VOLUMES OF ALL THE NEW CLUTCH PACKS. AGAIN, IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS YOU POTENTIALLY COULD BURN UP YOUR NEW TRANSMISSION IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF MILES. NOW I HAVE A FEW THINGS LEFT TO INSTALL TO GET THE TRANSFER CASE BACK IN AND WE'LL GET THIS TRUCK BUTTONED UP, BUT OUR RAM IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO PUTTING ALL THAT POWER DOWN TO THE GROUND.
(NARRATOR)>> NEXT!
(STEVE)>> WHENEVER THEY START PULLING THAT VIBRATION ON THAT GROUND WILL PUT SOMETHING INTO YOUR BODY YOU AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE, AND YOU WILL NOT FORGET IT. [ engine revving ]
(LT)>> WELCOME BACK TO TRUCK TECH. YOU KNOW THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT ARE TRULY AMERICAN. THINGS THAT NO OTHER COUNTRY CAN CLAIM AS THEIR OWN. WE'RE TALKING BASEBALL, HOT DOGS, APPLE PIE, AND OF COURSE TRACTOR PULLING.
WHAT STARTED AS A FRIENDLY COMPETITION FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS AT THE LOCAL COOP IS NOW A BIG TIME SLED PULLING SERIES FOR BIG BUCKS. WE'RE AT THE SUPER PULL OF THE SOUTH IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE. A PREMIER STOP FOR THE NATIONAL TRACTOR PULLING ASSOCIATION. IN MOST MOTORSPORTS IT'S ABOUT GETTING FROM POINT "A" TO POINT "B" FASTER THAN THE OTHER GUY, BUT NOT IN TRACTOR PULLING. HERE IT'S ALL ABOUT DISTANCE. YOU'VE GOT A 320 FOOT TRACK THAT'S 30 FEET WIDE, AND THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PULL THE SLED FARTER THAN THE OTHER GUYS. NOW IT'S ALSO ONE OF THOSE SPORTS THAT YOU HAVE TO TRULY EXPERIENCE IN PERSON JUST TO GET A FEEL FOR HOW POWERFUL THESE MACHINES ARE. [ engine revving ]
( )>> WHENEVER THEY START PULLING, THAT VIBRATION ON THAT GROUND WILL PUT SOMETHING INTO YOUR BODY YOU AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND YOU WILL NOT FORGET IT. [ engine revving ] ( )>> JUST POWER, JUST STRAIGHT POWER. ( )>> WHEN THOSE ENGINES REV UP IT RATTLES EVERY CELL IN YOUR BODY. ( )>> YOU CAN FEEL THE POWER IN YOUR CHEST CAUSE THEY'RE SO LOUD. LOOKING AT THE ENGINEERING IS AWESOME. I MEAN HOW DO YOU PUT FIVE ENGINES TOGETHER? I MEAN THAT'S PRETTY GREAT RIGHT? [ engines revving ]
( )>> I GOT MY EAR PROTECTION RIGHT HERE IN MY POCKET, READY TO GO. RIGHT THERE, THERE IT IS, SEE EAR PROTECTION. GOT TO HAVE IT!
(LT)>> SO IF YOU'RE NEW TO SLED PULLING HERE'S BASICALLY HOW IT WORKS. THIS IS A WEIGHT SLED THAT THE TRACTORS HAVE TO PULL DOWN THE TRACK, AND THEY OBVIOUSLY WANT TO GO AS FAR AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN BUT IT'S NOT JUST A STATIC WEIGHT. IF YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S A BIG FLAT BLADE THAT SITS ON THE GROUND AND THERE'S A WEIGHT BOX THAT SITS TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE SLED, AND THE FARTHER THE TRACTOR PULLS IT DOWN THE TRACK THE FARTHER THAT SLED ADVANCES TO THE FRONT APPLYING MORE WEIGHT TO THE PLATE ON THE GROUND, MAKING IT HARDER AND HARDER TO PULL. THAT'S WHY THESE GUYS JUST CAN'T GO ON FOREVER, BECAUSE THE FARTHER THEY GO THE HARDER IT GETS TO PULL.
FIVE CLASSES RUN HERE AT CHAPEL HILL, WHICH IS NOW IN ITS 42ND YEAR, INCLUDING THE UNLIMITEDS. ENGINEERING MARVELS WITH SOMETIMES FIVE HEMIS AND 10,000 HORSEPOWER, BUT MORE ON THOSE A LITTLE LATER. IF YOU GUYS KNOW ME YOU'LL KNOW THAT I'M A DIESEL NUT. SO THE FIRST PLACE THAT I CAM WAS TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE SUPER STOCK DIESEL PULLING TRACTORS. NOW MOST ENGINES WE'RE USED TO WORKING ON ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVENINE AND SIX POINT SEVEN LITERS. THESE THINGS ARE MASSIVE. SO I'VE GOT TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEM. THE BLAGRAVE PULLING TEAM IS A FAMILY AFFAIR. STEVE, TWO TIME GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION, ALONG WITH HIS SONS TREVOR AND SEAN, BROTHER STAN, AND THE MISSES.
(STEVE)>> WELL YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOUR WIFE YOU KNOW.
(LT)>> OKAY SO THE FIRST THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE TURBOCHARGER SETUP. I NOTICE THERE'S FOUR OF THEM.
(STEVE)>> YEAH, HARD TO MISS.
(LT)>> TELL ME REAL QUICKLY ABOUT THE TURBO SETUP AND MAYBE SOME OF THE DIMENSIONS IF YOU CAN.
(STEVE)>> YEAH WE'RE RUNNING A THREE STAGE, THREE PRESSURE STAGE, FOUR TURBOS. WE'RE RUNNING TWO ATMOSPHERIC TURBOS, AND THEN THEY'RE COMPRESSING INTO A MIDDLE TURBO THAT COMPRESSES INTO THE BOTTOM TURBO. WE GET ABOUT 75 POUNDS OF BOOST ON THE TOP STAGE. WE INCREASE THAT TO ABOUT 150 POUNDS OF BOOST ON THE MIDDLE STAGE, AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM STAGE WE'RE RUNNING 300 POUNDS OF BOOST INTO THE MANIFOLD.
(LT)>> AND TO CONTROL THE HEAT GENERATED BY ALL THOSE TURBOS THEY RUN WATER INJECTION. EGT'S ARE KEPT BELOW 1,500 DEGREES BY BURNING FOUR GALLONS OF WATER ALONG WITH TWO GALLONS OF DIESEL IN 12 SECONDS. AND WITH A TOP TURBO SPINNING AT 80,000 RPM, "RED HORSE" BASICALLY BECOMES A MODIFIED STEAM ENGINE.
(STEVE)>> YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE A DIESEL NUT LIKE YOU ARE IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN MAKE THESE ENGINES DO. IT'S PRETTY HEART BREAKING WHEN YOU TEAR THEM UP BUT IT'S STILL THE ADRENALINE. YOU JUST CAN'T GET PAST IT.
(NARRATOR)>> AHEAD, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?
(LT)>> BRAKE FLUID IS AN OFTEN NEGLECTED COMPONENT OF YOUR BRAKING SYSTEM. OVER TIME YOUR PEDAL CAN ACTUALLY BECOME SOFT AND MUSHY DUE IN PART TO WATER LADEN BRAKE FLUID. PRESTONE'S DOT THREE HIGH TEMPERATURE SYNTHETIC PROVIDES LONGER FLUID LIFE. ITS WET AND DRY BOILING POINTS EXCEED THE MINIMUM GOVERNMENT STANDARDS, AND THE HIGH TEMP FORMULA HELPS YOU TAKE ON QUICK BRAKING SITUATIONS WITH CONFIDENCE. FOR PRESTONE DOT THREE SYNTHETIC VISIT YOUR FAVORITE AUTOMOTIVE RETAILER. THERE'S A REASON WHY OPTIMA IS THE BATTERY OF CHOICE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS AND TRUCKS. NUMBER ONE, YOU CAN MOUNT IT UPSIDE DOWN, SIDEWAYS, OR ANY WAY YOU WANT BECAUSE THERE'S NO LEAD ACID INSIDE THAT WILL LEAK OUT. AGM STANDS FOR ABSORBED GLASS MAT, AND THEIR SPIRAL CELL TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN ENGINEERED TO WITHSTAND MAXIMUM VIBRATIONS, AND THE RED TOP WILL GIVE YOU QUICK BURSTS OF STARTING POWER SO YOU GET QUICK AND EASY FIRE UPS EVERY SINGLE TIME. TO FIND YOUR LOCAL RETAILER VISIT OPTIMA BATTERIES DOT COM. THE MAXIMUS THREE POINT ZERO IS MATCO TOOLS' FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL AND ROBUST TABLET SCAN TOOL TODAY. IT FEATURES A VIN DECODER THAT'LL AUTOMATICALLY DETECT THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE THAT YOUR WORKING ON, BUT IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A SCAN TOOL. IT FEATURES MAXIMUS FIX, WHICH IS A BUILT IN POWERFUL TOOL THAT'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE THE REPAIR THAT YOU JUST DIAGNOSED. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FLOW CHARTS, WIRING DIAGRAMS, AND A WHOLE LOT MORE INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE TO GET ON A SHOP COMPUTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT MATCO TOOLS DOT COM OR SEE YOUR LOCAL MATCO TOOLS DISTRIBUTOR. NOW THAT WRAPS UP OUR SEASON HERE ON TRUCK TECH, WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME TO CLEAN OUT THE SHOP. WELL HOW'S THAT FOR EFFICIENCY. WE HAVE THE ENTIRE PLACE CLEANED OUT BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO SOME WORK TO THIS FLOOR, IT'S NASTY!
WHETHER YOU OWN A SHOP OR JUST TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR OWN GARAGE, RESURFACING THE SLAB CAN BRING YOUR AUTOMOTIVE MAN CAVE BACK TO LIFE. WE CALLED QUEST MARK, AN INNOVATIVE FLOORING SOLUTIONS COMPANY, AND THEY SHOWED UP WITH A TON OF GEAR. FIRST THEY USED BACKAROD TO FILL IN THE JOINTS SO THE SLABS CAN STILL FLOAT. THEN APPLIED AN EPOXY SEALER. ONCE THE EXCESS IS SCRAPED OFF THEY HIT THE SURFACE WITH A DIAMOND GRINDER. 40 GRIT TAKES ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH OFF THE SURFACE. ACETONE IS MIXED WITH A CONCENTRATED DYE AND APPLIED IN TWO EVEN COATS TO GIVE IT A NICE TINT. THEN IT'S MOPPED FOR FULL COVERAGE. A WATER BASED SEALER IS FOLLOWED BY A 200 GRIT BURNISHING PAD TO PUT ON A NICE PROTECTIVE SHINE. BEFORE WE LOAD EVERYTHING BACK UP IN THE SHOP LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE SUPER PULL OF THE SOUTH FOR WORLD CLASS TRACTOR PULLING.
( )>> PROGRAMS FIVE DOLLARS!
( )>> CORN DOGS, GET YOUR CORN DOGS! [ engine revving ]
(LT)>> 8,000 FANS AND $100,000 DOLLARS IN PRIZE MONEY MAKE THIS EVENT IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS ON THE NTPA TOUR.
(MILES)>> WE HAVE COMPETITORS FROM THE NETHERLANDS HERE. WE HAVE COMPETITORS FROM CANADA HERE, AND WE PROBABLY REPRESENT ABOUT 20 STATES IN THE PIT AREA RIGHT NOW AS WELL. WINNING THIS EVENT, GETTING THAT FOLD OUT CHAIR THAT THEY PRESENT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL TO ALL OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE COMPETING, AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT'S BASED ON ITS ROOTS IN THE HISTORY THAT HAVE BEEN PLANTED OVER THE YEARS.
(LT)>> AND WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE YOU BETTER BELIEVE ALL EYES ARE ON THIS GUY AND HIS GROOMSMAN. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE HERE WITH KEN LAMB, AND HE'S THE GUY WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SURFACE THAT THESE GUYS ARE GONNA BE PULLING ON. SO KEN TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIRT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO IT RIGHT NOW.
(KEN)>> IT'S JUST TENNESSEE RED CLAY, OR TENNESSEE CLAY. WE'RE WATERING IT NOW. WE WANT A GOOD CONSISTENCY. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST THING IS GETTING THE MOISTURE CONTENT TO THE CORRECT LEVEL.
(LT)>> DO YOU EVER HAVE TO ADD ANYTHING ACTUALLY INTO THE TRACK? ANY CERTAIN TYPES OF MATERIAL?
(KEN)>> WE USE COW MANURE TO PUT SOME ORGANIC MATTER BACK INTO THE DIRT, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE OUR SECRET I GUESS. I GUESS IT'S NOT A SECRET NOW.
(LT)>> BESIDES THE SUPER STOCK DIESEL TRACTORS FOUR MORE CLASSES RUN HERE AT CHAPEL HILL. THE 10,000 POUND PRO STOCK ARE SMOKE BLOWING SINGLE TURBO MACHINES WITH A WHOLE LOT OF POWER, UPWARDS OF 3,700 HORSES. THESE ARE MODIFIED MINIS. POUND FOR POUND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CROWD PLEASERS. SINGLE HEMI, 2,900 HORSES ON A ONE TON FRAME. THESE GUYS ARE WILD AND WOOLY. LOVE TO ZIG ZAG TO GET TO THE END. THE UNLIMITED CLASS IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. FOUR OR EVEN FIVE HEMI ENGINES, UNREAL HORSEPOWER, AND YOU HEARD THOSE FANS TALK ABOUT EARTH SHAKING? THIS IS A TORNADO RIGHT THERE! AND LASTLY MODIFIED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS. NATURALLY ASPIRATED, SOMEWHERE IN THE 650 CUBIC INCH RANGE.
IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING WHEN YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT OF CARNAGE AT ANY KIND OF MOTORSPORTS EVENT. THIS IS PART OF THE COMPRESSOR WHEEL, AND THESE ARE SOME MORE TURBO PARTS THAT CAME APART IN THAT MASSIVE FIRE BOMB. LUCKILY NOBODY GOT HURT TONIGHT BUT THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE COOL THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE WHEN YOU'RE CHECKING OUT A SLED PULL.
(STEVE)>> GOT TO THE END OF THE TRACK, IT WASN'T IDLING RIGHT. HAD A PRETTY BAD MISS TO IT. SO I NEED TO GET BACK THERE AND SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
(LT)>> DIESEL WINNER WAS COLIN ROSS FROM WAYNESBURG, PA, ON "TRIPLE BYPASS". PRO STOCK TITLE WENT TO DARRIN HUNT FROM HERNDON, KENTUCKY, WITH A PULL OF 324 FEET.
[ engine revving ]
(LT)>> STEVE BOYD FULL PULLED HIS WAY TO VICTORY IN HIS "GREEN STREAK" UNLIMITED. THE MODIFIED MINI CLASS FEATURED 16 COMPETITORS, AND SECOND YEAR PRO CAMILLE SHELTON HAD TO WATCH HER BROTHERS GRAYSON AND REECE FALL SHORT.
BEFORE SHE WOWED THE CROWD WITH "GIRL POWER".
(CAMILLE)>> TONIGHT I TOLD MYSELF I'M GONNA DRIVE THE TRACTOR LIKE I KNOW HOW AND JUST GET ALL THE OUTSIDE THOUGHTS OUT, AND THAT'S WHAT I DID AND I JUST LET IT GO.
(LT)>> A PULL OF 319 FEET GAVE THIS HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR HER FIRST CAREER VICTORY.
(CAMILLE)>> THE VERY TIP TOP. I'VE ACTUALLY NEVER WON A PULL BEFORE AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PULLS YOU CAN WIN, AND I AM SUPER STOKED AND I'M JUST SO BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO WIN TONIGHT.
(STAN)>> THIS IS A FEATHER YOU WANT IN YOUR CAP IN PULLING, TO WIN HERE AT CHAPEL HILL. SO SHE'S GOT TO DO HER JOB BUT SHE DID HER JOB.
Show Full Transcript
(LT)>> WE'VE BEEN MAKING REALLY GOOD HEADWAY ON OUR 2016 RAM HIGH PERFORMANCE DIESEL BUILD. WE'VE ALREADY ADDED A WHOLE BUNCH OF GO FAST PARTS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD BUT TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS. IF YOU'D HAVE ORDERED THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. THE FIRST IS THE G-56 SIX SPEED MANUAL. THE SECOND IS THE CHRYSLER 68-RFE SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND THE THIRD IS THIS, THEY AISIN SEIKI AS-69-RC, WHICH IS ALSO A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC. AT STOCK POWER LEVELS IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY STRONG TRANSMISSION, BUT WE PLAN ON MORE THAN DOUBLING THE POWER FROM THIS CUMMINS. SO NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE STOCK TRANSMISSION IS IT'S JUST NOT GONNA HOLD UP TO WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED. THIS IS A REV MAX SIGNATURE SERIES REBUILT TRANSMISSION. RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE IT'S BEEN DESIGNED TO HOLD IN EXCESS OF 800 HORSEPOWER, AND IT'S NOT JUST YOUR AVERAGE REBUILT TRANSMISSION EITHER. IT'S BEEN COMPLETELY ENGINEERED FROM END TO END AND A LOT OF THE HARD PARTS HAVE ACTUALLY JUST BEEN THROWN OUT AND REPLACED WITH UPGRADED BILLET PARTS THAT WILL HOLD ADDITIONAL CLUTCHES. NOW IT COMES WITH THEIR STAGE FIVE SIX DISC TORQUE CONVERTER THAT'S BEEN RATED AT AN ADDITIONAL 120 PERCENT CAPACITY OVER STOCK. WE ALSO CHOSE TO UPGRADE TO THEIR BRAND NEW REV MAX BILLET FLEX PLATE FOR THE AS-69. THIS WILL TRANSFER ALL THE POWER FROM THAT CUMMINS ENGINE INTO THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT CRACKING LIKE THE FACTORY STAMPED FLEX PLATES ARE KNOWN TO DO. NOW WE GOT OURS POWDER COATED IN "ILLUSION CHERRY" TO MATCH THE THEME THAT WE HAVE GOING ON UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND WITH THE REST OF THE TRUCK. SO THIS THING LOOKS AMAZING FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT WITH ANY HIGH PERFORMANCE PART IT'S NOT WHAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE, IT'S WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS. GUYS THIS IS FRANK FROM REV MAX. HOW ARE YOU MAN?
(FRANK)>> HEY, NICE TO MEET YOU.
(LT)>> GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU BROUGHT US A WHOLE BUNCH OF PARTS THAT GO INSIDE THE AS-69. FIRST OF ALL TELL ME ABOUT REV MAX AND WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
(FRANK)>> SO AT REV MAX WE MANUFACTURE HIGH PERFORMANCE DIESEL TRANSMISSIONS AND TORQUE CONVERTERS. WE START BY TAKING APART A BRAND NEW FACTORY TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. ANALYZING WEAK POINTS, AND THEN REENGINEER THAT TRANSMISSION TO MAKE IT HOLD EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF HORSEPOWER.
(LT)>> ALL RIGHT, I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT. SPEAKING OF FACTORY PARTS I SEE YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF ONES OVER HERE THAT LOOK LIKE MAYBE THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT WORN OUT. TELL ME ABOUT THOSE AND WHAT YOU DO TO REPLACE IT.
(FRANK)>> YEAH SO LET'S START WITH THE KTWO CLUTCH HUB. THE KTWO CLUTCH HUB IN THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION IS NOTORIOUS FOR SPLINE WEAR.
(LT)>> YEAH IT'S GOUGED UP PRETTY BAD THERE.
(FRANK)>> YEAH, SO THIS GUY IS ABOUT READY TO FAIL ANY DAY NOW. WE TAKE THE FACTORY DESIGN AND WE MAKE IT A LOT BETTER. WE MAKE IT THICKER. WE HAVE A LONGER CLUTCH SPLINE LENGTH, AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE CAN GO FROM FIVE FRICTIONS UP TO EIGHT FRICTIONS IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
(LT)>> AND WHAT MATERIAL IS THIS?
(FRANK)>> THIS IS A 41-40 HEAT TREATED STRESS RELEASE STEEL.
(LT)>> OKAY, THIS IS A DRUM. WHAT'S THE STORY ON THAT?
(FRANK)>> ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS OUR BILLET KTHREE CLUTCH DRUM, AND THIS CLUTCH DRUM ALLOWS US TO RUN EIGHT FRICTIONS VERSUS THE FACTORY FIVE. IT'S MADE OUT OF 41-40 STEEL AGAIN, AND IS ACTUALLY THICKER IN EVERY AREA. SO IT WON'T STRESS AND FATIGUE LIKE THE FACTORY ONE DOES, AND THIS DESIGNED WAS DESIGNED BY US IN HOUSE BY OUR ENGINEERS.
(LT)>> OKAY, SO BILLET REPLACEMENT, STRONGER, AND THEY HOLD MORE CLUTCHES. NOW I KNOW THIS IS A PISTON. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS?
(FRANK)>> ALL RIGHT, SO THIS PISTON IS THE KTWO CLUTCH PISTON, AND THIS PISTON IS NOTORIOUS FOR CRACKING. SO IF THIS CRACKS YOUR TRANNY GOES WITH IT. SO WE'VE REDESIGNED THAT OUT OF BILLET ALUMINUM, AND THEN THIS PISTON WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO RUN NINE FRICTIONS VERSUS THE FACTORY SIX FRICTIONS.
(LT)>> AND I GUESS MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE WHOLE PUZZLE IS THE CONVERTER. THIS FACTORY ONE HOLDS THREE FRICTION DISCS, WHICH I KNOW IS ACTUALLY A LOT MORE THAN THE DURAMAX. THOSE GUYS ARE RUNNING A SINGLE CLUTCH FROM THE FACTORY, BUT YOU'RE RUNNING SIX. TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
(FRANK)>> YEAH SO THIS CONVERTER WAS A DECENT BUILD TO START WITH, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S ALSO FAILED AS WELL. SO AT REV MAX WE WENT AHEAD AND DESIGNED A SIX FRICTION CONVERTER. IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, AND WE HAVE NEVER FOUND THIS CONVERTER TO FAIL YET. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW IT HAS AN UNLIMITED HORSEPOWER RATING ON IT. WE HAVE A LARGER DIAMETER FRICTION DISC. WE HAVE A MORE AGGRESSIVE FRICTION DISC, AND THE BEST PART IS IT'S HOUSING A ONE PIECE BILLET FRONT COVER. THIS COVER STARTS OUT AS A SOLID 300 PLUS POUND CHUNK OF STEEL THAT WE MACHINE DOWN TO 50 POUNDS WHEN WE'RE ALL DONE WITH IT.
(LT)>> WELL I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT. WE'LL CERTAINLY DO OUR BEST TO TEST THE LIMIT OF IT. WHAT DO YOU SAY, YOU WANT TO HELP US BOLT THIS THING IN? GET A LITTLE DIRTY TODAY?
(FRANK)>> I THINK I'LL PASS MAN.
(LT)>> ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU FOR THE PARTS. WE APPRECIATE IT, AND WE'LL SEE YOU AROUND.
(FRANK)>> THANKS MAN.
(NARRATOR)>> LATER, FEEL THE SHAKE, BUT NEXT THE DUALLY GETS ITS NEW GEARBOX.
(LT)>> WHEN REMOVING AND INSTALLING A TRANSMISSION IN ANY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP THE STEPS WERE MOSTLY THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHICH BRAND OF TRUCK YOU HAVE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE FLUIDS OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TO RETURN YOUR CORE. THE FIRST MAJOR PART TO BE REMOVED IS THE TRANSFER CASE. HEY BUDDY.
(MIKE)>> HEY MAN.
(LT)>> IT'S USUALLY MADE FROM ALUMINUM. SO IT'S NOT TOO HEAVY, JUST KIND OF BULKY AND AWKWARD. THE SHIFTER CABLE AND BRACKET ARE REMOVED, AND THE WIRING HARNESSES HAVE TO BE UNPLUGGED, AND ON ANY AUTOMATIC TRANS THERE WILL BE SOME COOLER LINES THAT MUST BE DISCONNECTED. SO THE NEXT STEP IS REMOVE THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FLEX PLATE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. NOW THAT BASICALLY INVOLVES TURNING THE ENGINE OVER SLOWLY UNTIL ALL THE BOLTS APPEAR IN THE ACCESS WINDOW. A BIG CUMMINS LIKE THIS IS PRETTY HARD TO TURN OVER, BUT WE HAVE THIS NIFTY LITTLE TOOL FROM MATCO. IT ENGAGES INTO A SECOND HOLE IN THE BELL HOUSING AND IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A STARTER, AND THAT'S FOR GOOD REASON, AND BECAUSE IT ENGAGES WITH THE RING GEAR ON THE FLEX PLATE. ALL YOU DO IS POP A THREEEIGHTHS RATCHET IN AND IT ALLOWS YOU TO EASILY AND QUICKLY TURN OVER THE ENGINE. AND YOU CAN EASILY SPIN THE ENGINE WITH ONE HAND, GIVING EASY ACCESS TO REMOVE ALL SIX CONVERTER BOLTS. NOW ALL THAT'S LEFT ARE THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BELL HOUSING TO THE ENGINE, AND THE AS-69 IS SEPARATED. AND THE FLEX PLATE IS THE LAST STOCK PART TO BE REMOVED. [ drill spinning ]
(LT)>> OUR RAM SPENT ITS ENTIRE LIFE AT A FACTORY POWER LEVEL. SO THE STOCK FLEX PLATE IS JUST FINE FOR NOW, BUT THIS IS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE TRIED TO PUT 500 TO 600 HORSEPOWER THROUGH IT. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IT'S CRACKED RIGHT AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE RIGHT AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOLT HOLES. SO THIS TRUCK WOULDN'T BE GOING ANYWHERE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING THE TIME TO UPGRADE TO THE REV MAX BILLET FLEX PLATE FOR THE AS-69. WE'RE GOING TO BE REUSING THE ORIGINAL HARDWARE, BUT IT GETS A QUICK DAB OF THREAD LOCKER, AND THE BOLTS ARE TORQUED TO SPEC IN A CRISS CROSS PATTERN.
NOW THERE'S A FEW STEPS THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT SKIP WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING A CONVERTER INTO A TRANSMISSION FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THAT IS PREFILLING IT WITH FLUID. NOW IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS WHEN YOU FIRST START UP A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION TO PUMP FLUID AND FILL UP THE CONVERTER. SO YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THOSE FIRST COUPLE SECONDS WITH IT COMPLETELY DRY. NOW YOU DON'T NEED MUCH. JUST MAYBE A QUART OR SO IS ALL YOU NEED.
WE'VE SHOWN YOU THIS BEFORE BUT REMEMBER, THERE ARE ALWAYS THREE SOLID CLUNKS TO LISTEN FOR, WHICH WILL TELL YOU THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS FULLY ENGAGED. WE'RE IN! WITH THE REV MAX AS-69 ON THE TRANS JACK, IT EASILY SLIPS BACK UP INTO ITS NEW HOME BEHIND OUR SIXSEVEN CUMMINS.
AND THE FACTORY HARDWARE CONNECTS THE TWO. ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS YOU WANT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN INSTALLING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION LIKE THIS. FIRST IF YOU HAVE A BILLET TORQUE CONVERTER LIKE WE DO, DO NOT REUSE THE ORIGINAL FLEX PLATE BOLTS. IT WILL COME WITH SOME NEW SHORTER ONES. IF YOU DO RUN IN AND TORQUE DOWN THE LONGER BOLTS YOU WILL DAMAGE THAT BRAND NEW CONVERTER. ALSO, AFTER YOU'VE STARTED THE TRUCK UP AND TOPPED OFF THE FLUID YOU NEED TO GET A SCAN TOOL AND RESET THE ADAPTIVE SHIFTING IN THE TCM. THIS WILL ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO RELEARN THE FLUID VOLUMES OF ALL THE NEW CLUTCH PACKS. AGAIN, IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS YOU POTENTIALLY COULD BURN UP YOUR NEW TRANSMISSION IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF MILES. NOW I HAVE A FEW THINGS LEFT TO INSTALL TO GET THE TRANSFER CASE BACK IN AND WE'LL GET THIS TRUCK BUTTONED UP, BUT OUR RAM IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO PUTTING ALL THAT POWER DOWN TO THE GROUND.
(NARRATOR)>> NEXT!
(STEVE)>> WHENEVER THEY START PULLING THAT VIBRATION ON THAT GROUND WILL PUT SOMETHING INTO YOUR BODY YOU AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE, AND YOU WILL NOT FORGET IT. [ engine revving ]
(LT)>> WELCOME BACK TO TRUCK TECH. YOU KNOW THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT ARE TRULY AMERICAN. THINGS THAT NO OTHER COUNTRY CAN CLAIM AS THEIR OWN. WE'RE TALKING BASEBALL, HOT DOGS, APPLE PIE, AND OF COURSE TRACTOR PULLING.
WHAT STARTED AS A FRIENDLY COMPETITION FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS AT THE LOCAL COOP IS NOW A BIG TIME SLED PULLING SERIES FOR BIG BUCKS. WE'RE AT THE SUPER PULL OF THE SOUTH IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE. A PREMIER STOP FOR THE NATIONAL TRACTOR PULLING ASSOCIATION. IN MOST MOTORSPORTS IT'S ABOUT GETTING FROM POINT "A" TO POINT "B" FASTER THAN THE OTHER GUY, BUT NOT IN TRACTOR PULLING. HERE IT'S ALL ABOUT DISTANCE. YOU'VE GOT A 320 FOOT TRACK THAT'S 30 FEET WIDE, AND THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PULL THE SLED FARTER THAN THE OTHER GUYS. NOW IT'S ALSO ONE OF THOSE SPORTS THAT YOU HAVE TO TRULY EXPERIENCE IN PERSON JUST TO GET A FEEL FOR HOW POWERFUL THESE MACHINES ARE. [ engine revving ]
( )>> WHENEVER THEY START PULLING, THAT VIBRATION ON THAT GROUND WILL PUT SOMETHING INTO YOUR BODY YOU AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND YOU WILL NOT FORGET IT. [ engine revving ] ( )>> JUST POWER, JUST STRAIGHT POWER. ( )>> WHEN THOSE ENGINES REV UP IT RATTLES EVERY CELL IN YOUR BODY. ( )>> YOU CAN FEEL THE POWER IN YOUR CHEST CAUSE THEY'RE SO LOUD. LOOKING AT THE ENGINEERING IS AWESOME. I MEAN HOW DO YOU PUT FIVE ENGINES TOGETHER? I MEAN THAT'S PRETTY GREAT RIGHT? [ engines revving ]
( )>> I GOT MY EAR PROTECTION RIGHT HERE IN MY POCKET, READY TO GO. RIGHT THERE, THERE IT IS, SEE EAR PROTECTION. GOT TO HAVE IT!
(LT)>> SO IF YOU'RE NEW TO SLED PULLING HERE'S BASICALLY HOW IT WORKS. THIS IS A WEIGHT SLED THAT THE TRACTORS HAVE TO PULL DOWN THE TRACK, AND THEY OBVIOUSLY WANT TO GO AS FAR AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN BUT IT'S NOT JUST A STATIC WEIGHT. IF YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S A BIG FLAT BLADE THAT SITS ON THE GROUND AND THERE'S A WEIGHT BOX THAT SITS TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE SLED, AND THE FARTHER THE TRACTOR PULLS IT DOWN THE TRACK THE FARTHER THAT SLED ADVANCES TO THE FRONT APPLYING MORE WEIGHT TO THE PLATE ON THE GROUND, MAKING IT HARDER AND HARDER TO PULL. THAT'S WHY THESE GUYS JUST CAN'T GO ON FOREVER, BECAUSE THE FARTHER THEY GO THE HARDER IT GETS TO PULL.
FIVE CLASSES RUN HERE AT CHAPEL HILL, WHICH IS NOW IN ITS 42ND YEAR, INCLUDING THE UNLIMITEDS. ENGINEERING MARVELS WITH SOMETIMES FIVE HEMIS AND 10,000 HORSEPOWER, BUT MORE ON THOSE A LITTLE LATER. IF YOU GUYS KNOW ME YOU'LL KNOW THAT I'M A DIESEL NUT. SO THE FIRST PLACE THAT I CAM WAS TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE SUPER STOCK DIESEL PULLING TRACTORS. NOW MOST ENGINES WE'RE USED TO WORKING ON ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVENINE AND SIX POINT SEVEN LITERS. THESE THINGS ARE MASSIVE. SO I'VE GOT TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEM. THE BLAGRAVE PULLING TEAM IS A FAMILY AFFAIR. STEVE, TWO TIME GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION, ALONG WITH HIS SONS TREVOR AND SEAN, BROTHER STAN, AND THE MISSES.
(STEVE)>> WELL YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOUR WIFE YOU KNOW.
(LT)>> OKAY SO THE FIRST THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE TURBOCHARGER SETUP. I NOTICE THERE'S FOUR OF THEM.
(STEVE)>> YEAH, HARD TO MISS.
(LT)>> TELL ME REAL QUICKLY ABOUT THE TURBO SETUP AND MAYBE SOME OF THE DIMENSIONS IF YOU CAN.
(STEVE)>> YEAH WE'RE RUNNING A THREE STAGE, THREE PRESSURE STAGE, FOUR TURBOS. WE'RE RUNNING TWO ATMOSPHERIC TURBOS, AND THEN THEY'RE COMPRESSING INTO A MIDDLE TURBO THAT COMPRESSES INTO THE BOTTOM TURBO. WE GET ABOUT 75 POUNDS OF BOOST ON THE TOP STAGE. WE INCREASE THAT TO ABOUT 150 POUNDS OF BOOST ON THE MIDDLE STAGE, AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM STAGE WE'RE RUNNING 300 POUNDS OF BOOST INTO THE MANIFOLD.
(LT)>> AND TO CONTROL THE HEAT GENERATED BY ALL THOSE TURBOS THEY RUN WATER INJECTION. EGT'S ARE KEPT BELOW 1,500 DEGREES BY BURNING FOUR GALLONS OF WATER ALONG WITH TWO GALLONS OF DIESEL IN 12 SECONDS. AND WITH A TOP TURBO SPINNING AT 80,000 RPM, "RED HORSE" BASICALLY BECOMES A MODIFIED STEAM ENGINE.
(STEVE)>> YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE A DIESEL NUT LIKE YOU ARE IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN MAKE THESE ENGINES DO. IT'S PRETTY HEART BREAKING WHEN YOU TEAR THEM UP BUT IT'S STILL THE ADRENALINE. YOU JUST CAN'T GET PAST IT.
(NARRATOR)>> AHEAD, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?
(LT)>> BRAKE FLUID IS AN OFTEN NEGLECTED COMPONENT OF YOUR BRAKING SYSTEM. OVER TIME YOUR PEDAL CAN ACTUALLY BECOME SOFT AND MUSHY DUE IN PART TO WATER LADEN BRAKE FLUID. PRESTONE'S DOT THREE HIGH TEMPERATURE SYNTHETIC PROVIDES LONGER FLUID LIFE. ITS WET AND DRY BOILING POINTS EXCEED THE MINIMUM GOVERNMENT STANDARDS, AND THE HIGH TEMP FORMULA HELPS YOU TAKE ON QUICK BRAKING SITUATIONS WITH CONFIDENCE. FOR PRESTONE DOT THREE SYNTHETIC VISIT YOUR FAVORITE AUTOMOTIVE RETAILER. THERE'S A REASON WHY OPTIMA IS THE BATTERY OF CHOICE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS AND TRUCKS. NUMBER ONE, YOU CAN MOUNT IT UPSIDE DOWN, SIDEWAYS, OR ANY WAY YOU WANT BECAUSE THERE'S NO LEAD ACID INSIDE THAT WILL LEAK OUT. AGM STANDS FOR ABSORBED GLASS MAT, AND THEIR SPIRAL CELL TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN ENGINEERED TO WITHSTAND MAXIMUM VIBRATIONS, AND THE RED TOP WILL GIVE YOU QUICK BURSTS OF STARTING POWER SO YOU GET QUICK AND EASY FIRE UPS EVERY SINGLE TIME. TO FIND YOUR LOCAL RETAILER VISIT OPTIMA BATTERIES DOT COM. THE MAXIMUS THREE POINT ZERO IS MATCO TOOLS' FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL AND ROBUST TABLET SCAN TOOL TODAY. IT FEATURES A VIN DECODER THAT'LL AUTOMATICALLY DETECT THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE THAT YOUR WORKING ON, BUT IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A SCAN TOOL. IT FEATURES MAXIMUS FIX, WHICH IS A BUILT IN POWERFUL TOOL THAT'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE THE REPAIR THAT YOU JUST DIAGNOSED. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FLOW CHARTS, WIRING DIAGRAMS, AND A WHOLE LOT MORE INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE TO GET ON A SHOP COMPUTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT MATCO TOOLS DOT COM OR SEE YOUR LOCAL MATCO TOOLS DISTRIBUTOR. NOW THAT WRAPS UP OUR SEASON HERE ON TRUCK TECH, WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME TO CLEAN OUT THE SHOP. WELL HOW'S THAT FOR EFFICIENCY. WE HAVE THE ENTIRE PLACE CLEANED OUT BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO SOME WORK TO THIS FLOOR, IT'S NASTY!
WHETHER YOU OWN A SHOP OR JUST TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR OWN GARAGE, RESURFACING THE SLAB CAN BRING YOUR AUTOMOTIVE MAN CAVE BACK TO LIFE. WE CALLED QUEST MARK, AN INNOVATIVE FLOORING SOLUTIONS COMPANY, AND THEY SHOWED UP WITH A TON OF GEAR. FIRST THEY USED BACKAROD TO FILL IN THE JOINTS SO THE SLABS CAN STILL FLOAT. THEN APPLIED AN EPOXY SEALER. ONCE THE EXCESS IS SCRAPED OFF THEY HIT THE SURFACE WITH A DIAMOND GRINDER. 40 GRIT TAKES ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH OFF THE SURFACE. ACETONE IS MIXED WITH A CONCENTRATED DYE AND APPLIED IN TWO EVEN COATS TO GIVE IT A NICE TINT. THEN IT'S MOPPED FOR FULL COVERAGE. A WATER BASED SEALER IS FOLLOWED BY A 200 GRIT BURNISHING PAD TO PUT ON A NICE PROTECTIVE SHINE. BEFORE WE LOAD EVERYTHING BACK UP IN THE SHOP LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE SUPER PULL OF THE SOUTH FOR WORLD CLASS TRACTOR PULLING.
( )>> PROGRAMS FIVE DOLLARS!
( )>> CORN DOGS, GET YOUR CORN DOGS! [ engine revving ]
(LT)>> 8,000 FANS AND $100,000 DOLLARS IN PRIZE MONEY MAKE THIS EVENT IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS ON THE NTPA TOUR.
(MILES)>> WE HAVE COMPETITORS FROM THE NETHERLANDS HERE. WE HAVE COMPETITORS FROM CANADA HERE, AND WE PROBABLY REPRESENT ABOUT 20 STATES IN THE PIT AREA RIGHT NOW AS WELL. WINNING THIS EVENT, GETTING THAT FOLD OUT CHAIR THAT THEY PRESENT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL TO ALL OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE COMPETING, AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT'S BASED ON ITS ROOTS IN THE HISTORY THAT HAVE BEEN PLANTED OVER THE YEARS.
(LT)>> AND WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE YOU BETTER BELIEVE ALL EYES ARE ON THIS GUY AND HIS GROOMSMAN. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE HERE WITH KEN LAMB, AND HE'S THE GUY WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SURFACE THAT THESE GUYS ARE GONNA BE PULLING ON. SO KEN TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIRT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO IT RIGHT NOW.
(KEN)>> IT'S JUST TENNESSEE RED CLAY, OR TENNESSEE CLAY. WE'RE WATERING IT NOW. WE WANT A GOOD CONSISTENCY. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST THING IS GETTING THE MOISTURE CONTENT TO THE CORRECT LEVEL.
(LT)>> DO YOU EVER HAVE TO ADD ANYTHING ACTUALLY INTO THE TRACK? ANY CERTAIN TYPES OF MATERIAL?
(KEN)>> WE USE COW MANURE TO PUT SOME ORGANIC MATTER BACK INTO THE DIRT, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE OUR SECRET I GUESS. I GUESS IT'S NOT A SECRET NOW.
(LT)>> BESIDES THE SUPER STOCK DIESEL TRACTORS FOUR MORE CLASSES RUN HERE AT CHAPEL HILL. THE 10,000 POUND PRO STOCK ARE SMOKE BLOWING SINGLE TURBO MACHINES WITH A WHOLE LOT OF POWER, UPWARDS OF 3,700 HORSES. THESE ARE MODIFIED MINIS. POUND FOR POUND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CROWD PLEASERS. SINGLE HEMI, 2,900 HORSES ON A ONE TON FRAME. THESE GUYS ARE WILD AND WOOLY. LOVE TO ZIG ZAG TO GET TO THE END. THE UNLIMITED CLASS IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. FOUR OR EVEN FIVE HEMI ENGINES, UNREAL HORSEPOWER, AND YOU HEARD THOSE FANS TALK ABOUT EARTH SHAKING? THIS IS A TORNADO RIGHT THERE! AND LASTLY MODIFIED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS. NATURALLY ASPIRATED, SOMEWHERE IN THE 650 CUBIC INCH RANGE.
IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING WHEN YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT OF CARNAGE AT ANY KIND OF MOTORSPORTS EVENT. THIS IS PART OF THE COMPRESSOR WHEEL, AND THESE ARE SOME MORE TURBO PARTS THAT CAME APART IN THAT MASSIVE FIRE BOMB. LUCKILY NOBODY GOT HURT TONIGHT BUT THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE COOL THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE WHEN YOU'RE CHECKING OUT A SLED PULL.
(STEVE)>> GOT TO THE END OF THE TRACK, IT WASN'T IDLING RIGHT. HAD A PRETTY BAD MISS TO IT. SO I NEED TO GET BACK THERE AND SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
(LT)>> DIESEL WINNER WAS COLIN ROSS FROM WAYNESBURG, PA, ON "TRIPLE BYPASS". PRO STOCK TITLE WENT TO DARRIN HUNT FROM HERNDON, KENTUCKY, WITH A PULL OF 324 FEET.
[ engine revving ]
(LT)>> STEVE BOYD FULL PULLED HIS WAY TO VICTORY IN HIS "GREEN STREAK" UNLIMITED. THE MODIFIED MINI CLASS FEATURED 16 COMPETITORS, AND SECOND YEAR PRO CAMILLE SHELTON HAD TO WATCH HER BROTHERS GRAYSON AND REECE FALL SHORT.
BEFORE SHE WOWED THE CROWD WITH "GIRL POWER".
(CAMILLE)>> TONIGHT I TOLD MYSELF I'M GONNA DRIVE THE TRACTOR LIKE I KNOW HOW AND JUST GET ALL THE OUTSIDE THOUGHTS OUT, AND THAT'S WHAT I DID AND I JUST LET IT GO.
(LT)>> A PULL OF 319 FEET GAVE THIS HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR HER FIRST CAREER VICTORY.
(CAMILLE)>> THE VERY TIP TOP. I'VE ACTUALLY NEVER WON A PULL BEFORE AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PULLS YOU CAN WIN, AND I AM SUPER STOKED AND I'M JUST SO BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO WIN TONIGHT.
(STAN)>> THIS IS A FEATHER YOU WANT IN YOUR CAP IN PULLING, TO WIN HERE AT CHAPEL HILL. SO SHE'S GOT TO DO HER JOB BUT SHE DID HER JOB.