Saturday, January 2, 2021

The Big Red Flatbed as Featured in Diesel Tech

The November issue of Diesel Tech had a nice story titled "The Big Red Flatbed" that appeared in its online  edition in December. The article by Colin Peterson focuses on a 2000 Dodge RAM 3500 powered by a 24-valve 5.9L Cummins engine. The vehicle is a labor of love for Alejandro "Alex" Ramos, a California teen from Camino, California.

The truck, which started as a stock dually, is a long ways from home, its original home being 3000 miles across the country in North Carolina. Today, the truck is in the midst of a complete makeover "with tractor-trailer-like rims" and beefed up performance. 

There's no question that Alex loves his truck. The article has lots of photos of this beautiful big red beast, but also includes an Instagram link where you can see even more. Alex is proud of what he has and of what he's been doing. It's a work in progress, and a work truck at the same time that he uses to pull excavators and other equipment around on winding roads.

The most aggressive upgrades have been under the hood, Peterson notes. Here's a partial list of what's taken place beneath the surface:

--195-horsepower BD Diesel Performance injectors

--BD Diesel high-performance VP44 injection pump

--Banks Power High-RAM air intake elbow

--Holset HX40 Super 40 turbo. 

"He keeps all of that running strong with Hot Shot’s Secret products. Behind the flywheel and before the NV4500 transmission is a South Bend Clutch dual-disk clutch, plenty well-designed to handle all the amped up performance that the engine puts out. With this setup that provides enhanced fuel flow, airflow and boost, the flatbed western hauler definitely gets the performance it deserves, and Alex has no problems with his heavy towing or hauling."

As noted earlier, it's a work in progress by a young man with big dreams. Dreamers peer into the future and make things happen. The world could use more young dreamers.  

READ THE FULL STORY HERE
https://www.dieseltechmag.com/2020/12/the-big-red-flatbed

2 comments:

  1. Always useful. A flatbed truck is a large vehicle with a flat body and no sides or roof around the bed. Typically, these types of trucks are used to transport heavy loads that won't be compromised in bad weather or on rough roads. Their unique bed design is ideal for loads that would be too wide for a truck with an enclosed body. Wish I had this one.

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  2. By the late ‘90s the era of electronically controlled diesels was upon us. As the deadline to meet stricter emission regulations neared, Cummins developed the 5.9L ISB to power all Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks beginning by January 1, 1998. Sure the new I6 shared some of its hard-parts with the late 12-valve mill (such as the crankshaft, 12mm main cap bolts and connecting rods), but it would debut a 24-valve cylinder head and replace the mechanical P-pump with the electronically controlled VP44 injection pump. The result of the four-valve head and VP44 combination was substantially improved airflow, more precise fueling, improved overall drivability, reduced emissions and an increase in power.

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