Diesel World July 2025

Well guys, the weather is FINALLY warming up and I’m getting calls daily about everyone’s progress on their builds from the long winter. We’ve been making progress of our own on Stock to Not by making sure it’s safe and stout enough for some rigorous testing here soon! Other than that, I just wanted to say how thankful I am for the people who support Diesel World by continuing to rep our merch, subscribing to the mags, and keeping up with us on social media. It’s been really cool to continue the legacy of print magazines in an industry that has been the backbone to my existence the past 13 years of my life. I love being able to share my experiences and love for the scene with the world…

01 FTI PERFORMANCE CUMMINS DIESEL BA SERIES TORQUE CONVERTER Dodge Cummins diesel performance torque converters by FTI Performance for pickups offer unbeatable performance and reliability. This unit will fit 47RH, 47RE, and 48RE transmissions. FTI PERFORMANCE WWW.FTIPERFORMANCE.COM 02 THOROUGHBRED DIESEL HEAVY-DUTY HEAD STUD KIT FOR 2001-2016 DURAMAX The Thoroughbred Diesel head stud kit is a must-have in any high-performance 2001-2016 GM 6.6L Duramax. To overcome head gasket failures that can occur in diesel engines in these high performance applications, Thoroughbred Diesel has introduced heavy-duty head studs for the popular GM LB7, LLY, LBZ, LMM, LML Duramax power plants. These studs are rated at 220,000 psi tensile strength, and provide the clamping force required to keep cylinder heads from lifting due to higher combustion pressures. THOROUGHBRED DIESEL WWW.THOROUGHBREDDIESEL.COM 03 MCGAUGHYS UPPER CONTROL ARMS FOR…

Lone Star Throwdown (LST) 2025, held from February 21 to 23 at the Lone Star Expo Center and Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe, Texas, once again set the tone for the custom truck scene as the first major event of the year. Known as the unofficial kickoff to show season, LST drew enthusiasts from across the country, showcasing everything from classic pickups to modern, heavily-modified builds. However, this year’s event came with a twist—rain and cold temperatures played a major role throughout the weekend. Overcast skies and intermittent showers made for a muddy showground, while unseasonably chilly temperatures had attendees bundled up in hoodies and jackets. But despite the less-than-ideal weather, the spirit of the event remained strong. True truck enthusiasts didn’t let a little rain dampen their excitement. Many…

Lots of folks build rat rods as an exercise in creativity. Completed projects are generally a collection of found parts that are assembled in a way that showcases the builder’s imagination. The end result is a one-of-a-kind showpiece where comfort and function are rarely the primary concern. Instead, fascination is the goal. The wrecker you see in these photos has a familiar patina appearance and sports occasional areas of rust so, on the surface, you might decide that this is just simply another rat rod showpiece with a collection of unusual accessories tacked on. In fact, nothing could be further from the case. Etian Montalvo from Cutler Bay, Florida has been an active auto mechanic for the last two decades. In fact, he got started early, cleaning parts in a…

We all want our vehicles to be as unique as possible. That’s the name of the game—to stand out from the crowd, right? Of course, there are trends within the scene that dictate the direction of the masses, but there are always factions of builders who move against the grain. These individuals don’t necessarily do it solely to buck the system, it’s more of a basic instinct. If you’re familiar with the automotive creativity of Joshua Joyce of Village Customs, then you know exactly what we’re talking about. You won’t find any flashy paint jobs or blingy accessories on any builds that leave his shop. Instead, Joshua has a proclivity for old patina-clad, military-issued vehicles that sit low and rumble loudly. Think show-quality apocalyptic rat rod war machines—that’s basically his…

With new diesel pickups pushing well past the $100,000 mark, the idea of building a competitive, performance-oriented truck for just one-tenth of that price sounds downright impossible. But that’s exactly what The Poor Diesel Challenge set out to prove at the 2024 Ultimate Callout Challenge in Brownsburg, Indiana. The rules? Working with a $10,000 total budget—truck, parts, and labor included. The goal? To see who could build the best budget diesel and put it to the test in a series of grueling challenges that would make even your mother slightly concerned. MEET THE COMPETITORS The brainchild of Robert Rowley (TheBuiltCmax Creations), the Poor Diesel Challenge brought together three die-hard diesel guys—each an expert in their platform. • Robert Rowley – 8 years of Duramax experience • Ron “MF” Maple –…