Innehållsförteckning för February 2026 från Diesel World

Every brand says it cares about enthusiasts, but it’s less common to see a brand actually show up and put its metaphorical money where its mouth is. RAM, however, showed up and showed out recently, proving that not only is the diesel racing industry alive and well, but it’s also catching some attention from the big players in the industry. RAM showed up to Roadkill Nights with a brand-new 3500 Mega Cab dually, grabbed Dave “Heavy D” Sparks for the wheelman job, looped in tuner Kory Willis for a little go-fast magic, and sent it all straight to Woodward Avenue. If you were there, you did not need a press release to tell you this was different. It felt like a line in the sand for diesel, drawn right out…

If you’ve owned a Duramax for more than ten minutes, you already know the front end is a wear item. Between big tires, heavy loads, and a lifetime of rough roads, ball joints take an absolute beating. And if you’re anything like the rest of us, you’ve probably tried every flavor on the shelf from OEM, Moog, Mevotech, and even that one “lifetime” set that lasted about a year. Eventually, you realize the problem isn’t just finding ball joints that fit; it’s finding ball joints that last. That’s where Kryptonite Suspension steps in. Its parts have built a reputation for being as tough as they sound, and when it came time to refresh the front end of our LBZ, we decided to go all-in with Kryptonite upper and lower ball…

Not Two things that will always move people forward through tough times and turmoil are inspiration and dedication. Sometimes you have to lean on those traits to get where you dreamed to be. If I told you that you were going to fail from the beginning, would you keep pushing forward? For Steven Dalton of Warner, Oklahoma, his resounding answer would be “Yes, absolutely!” Since Steven was a child, he had been wrenching in the garage with his father, building and restoring older trucks. Once he turned eighteen, his dedication shifted from the older-school restomods to a more newschool custom truck style. Admittedly, Steven was more into C10 trucks since that’s all he knew in the garage. But when it came time to venture out on his own builds, he…

Last issue, we took our “factory fresh” frame, made it a roller, and took a few minutes to gather our sanity before the strenuous part—putting it all back together again. A lot has happened in the past month. Tyler and the gang have been on full kill mode making this truck a true oneoff machine to show this year in Las Vegas! From getting the engine all the way down to nothing, plus minimizing the wiring harness to hide within the body panels, there has been a great deal of work put in. We even had our buddy Devan Ence, editor of F-Series Builder’s Guide and Tread magazine, come out and put his skills to the test by getting the truck smoothed out and bodyworked in just a few short…

Jamestown, Tennessee once again geared up this past weekend as Fitzgerald Performance hosted its highly anticipated FP Truck Fest 4.0. The event brought together diesel enthusiasts from across the country for a full weekend of burnouts, craftsmanship, and community. What began a few short years ago as a regional truck hang out has grown into one of the most talked about and attended events in the country, drawing in an array of builds that celebrate every corner of truck culture. SETTING THE STAGE The event took place October 24 and 25, 2025, at Fitzgerald Performance’s facility in Jamestown Tennessee. What makes this event stand out is its blend of competition, entertainment, and showmanship. It is not simply a truck show, but a celebration of every style of build, from show…

If you are plugged into the diesel scene, you are probably aware that burnout competitions are absolutely huge right now. Winners not only claim bragging rights but can also potentially take home substantial payouts. Knowing someone personally who competes in these or just likes to shred some rubber in the pit after the comps are done, you know that burnout trucks can be your greatest friend…or your biggest enemy. The difference sometimes boils down to luck; thinking you’ve finally bulletproofed the motor only for the bed to be destroyed after a tire popped, or the boot just being as stubborn as a bull and not stopping blowing off mid-run. It takes a lot of patience and dedication to have a burnout rig that can consistently show up and bring home…

We’re always told that it’s better to give than it is to receive. Most of us dream of being able to pass down our treasures to family and loved ones. Whether it’s sentimental jewelry, prized family memorabilia, property, or vehicles, just knowing that we get to share with our loved ones brings about a heavy sense of pride and peace. Now, you may remember Dave Simmons from one of our previous issues, as we featured his clean, green Willys Wagon with a Cummins under the hood. Well, he’s back with this epic 1953 Dodge B3H that he built to pass down to his eldest son. Jumping right into it, the original plan for this red 1953 Dodge was to build it into a beefy welding rig that could handle whatever…

In a world where filters and fancy captions sometimes outshine the real work, 4x4 Barbie, known off the screen as Pleasant Matthews, has made a career out of doing things the hard way while making it look easy. She is part builder, part driver, and all grit, proving that horsepower doesn’t care about stereotypes. Long before the pink branding and polished show builds, Pleasant grew up around mud, trucks, and tools. That is where the “Barbie” name gets its irony. It’s not about the dollhouse; it’s about determination. She cut her teeth behind the wheel of mini monster trucks, wrenching on her rigs and hauling them to smalltown events. Eventually, that raw passion evolved into something bigger—a full-blown love affair with diesel and off-road culture that would turn her into…

When you think diesel, you probably picture a lifted (or lowered, we love ‘em all) pickup, a tuned tow rig, or maybe a piece of heavy equipment working away on a job site. What you don’t usually picture is a Cessna 172 cruising along with a motor that has more in common with your truck than it does a Boeing or Airbus. Yet, that is exactly what is happening in some corners of aviation, and it is finally starting to grab people and make an impact. The appeal is pretty easy to understand. Jet-A fuel is available almost anywhere an airplane can land. It is cheaper than aviation gas (avgas), carries more energy per gallon, and is far less volatile. With leaded avgas on the way out, the idea of…

We recently had the chance to catch up with Jamie Johnson of Rust2Rodz in Marshfield, Missouri, to shoot his 1950s Needlenose Peterbilt. Our editor, Tucker Harris, kept this one a surprise, so pulling up to Northeast Diesel Service of Springfield and seeing this Peterbilt covered in hand-rolled body panels had me very excited to get shooting. Jamie was also kind enough to give us the full backstory of how he landed on this truck. Like a lot of us, Jamie’s obsession and love for a specific vehicle make, model, and year began when he was a kid. Growing up, his uncle owned a fleet of semi-trucks, mostly Peterbilts. The seed was planted then. Once he turned 16, he was given his first car on the promise that he would work…

Early September in Jay, Oklahoma, means one thing—another year of Lifted Truck Nationals. For 2025, America’s Outdoor Adventure Park once again became the place to be in the diesel scene that weekend. Thousands made the pilgrimage to the red clay hills, and as the sun rose over the park, the rumble of diesel engines rolled over the lakes. Rows of lifted rigs lined the showgrounds, each one an expression of its owner’s creativity and craftsmanship. From color-matched powdercoating to full hydraulic steering setups, every build told a story. Some came on trailers, fresh from SEMA-level garages, while others rolled in under their own power with mud still splattered from weekend trails. Either way, it was clear—this event isn’t just about showing off; it’s about showing up. Friday’s action got things…

Freeze plugs—also known as core plugs or expansion plugs—serve a vital role in sealing the casting holes in your 5.9L 12V Cummins engine block. Over time, these steel plugs can corrode and begin to leak—especially in high-mileage engines or trucks that have seen years of exposure to coolant OR high pressure in the coolant jackets from big power. Replacing them isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it’s also not the hardest job for handson diesel enthusiasts. WHAT YOU’LL NEED • Replacement freeze plugs (cummins p/n 3900959, but we’re upgrading to the firepunk diesel kit)• Hammer• Pry bar or screwdriver• Allen keys Step 1: Drain the Cooling System Begin by allowing the engine to cool completely. Open the radiator drain and remove the block drain plug if equipped. Catch all…