Power Driven Podcast

• The Truth About Built 47RE Transmissions

  We thought we had a built transmission until Willard’s converter started slipping on the highway with a trailer behind it.This episode of the Power Driven Podcast features Todd, Myer, and Will breaking down what built really means when you are talking transmissions on a VP44 powered second gen. Using our 2001 Ram tow rig Willard as the example, we talk through line pressure, torque converter lockup, and why some local shop builds feel fine on the dyno but fall apart in real towing. For anyone who relies on their truck to make a living or get the toys to the weekend, this stuff matters because heat, slip, and bad parts choices can ruin a trip fast.We start with line pressure and why a 47RE is usually around 100 to 110 psi in stock form, while many pan off kits on pre 03 trucks only bump that to roughly 120 to 130. More pressure can help clutches hold, but it also makes heat and steals cooler flow, so you have to balance power with reliability. Then we walk through the tow that exposed the problem. On the dyno Willard made about 450 horsepower on the big tune and about 430 on tune five with great EGT control. Hooked to the trailer at freeway speed, a 300 to 400 rpm flare under lockup told us the single disc converter clutch was slipping. We explain how to spot that, why cruise control can make it worse, and how backing the tune down saved the trip instead of making metal.From there we talk about what separates a true build from a parts list without going nuts on details. A good triple disc torque converter adds real lockup capacity. A billet input shaft and a stronger flex plate matter once you are past the mid power range. The valve body is where a lot of the magic happens, so we discuss testing on a stand, cleaning up leaks, keeping reverse pressure in check, and protecting cooler flow. At the big power end we touch on simple lube mods and rollerized planetaries so you do not friction weld expensive parts when you lean on it. If you have ever been sold a stage six without knowing what is inside, this will help you ask better questions and match the build to your goal.Along the way we naturally cover diesel performance, Power Driven Diesel, Cummins, VP44, dyno testing, turbo upgrades, drag racing, truck builds, and long tail topics like what is a built transmission, 47RE line pressure, diagnosing converter slip while towing, triple disc torque converter upgrade, valve body test stand, cooler flow vs line pressure, and second gen tow rig setup.Subscribe for more episodes and follow the Power Driven Podcast for new drops, tech talks, and real world shop lessons from the Power Driven Diesel crew.

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• VP44 Cummins 47RE What To Upgrade First

  We thought we had a built transmission until Willard’s converter started slipping on the highway with a trailer behind it.This episode of the Power Driven Podcast features Todd, Myer, and Will breaking down what built really means when you are talking transmissions on a VP44 powered second gen. Using our 2001 Ram tow rig Willard as the example, we talk through line pressure, torque converter lockup, and why some local shop builds feel fine on the dyno but fall apart in real towing. For anyone who relies on their truck to make a living or get the toys to the weekend, this stuff matters because heat, slip, and bad parts choices can ruin a trip fast.We start with line pressure and why a 47RE is usually around 100 to 110 psi in stock form, while many pan off kits on pre 03 trucks only bump that to roughly 120 to 130. More pressure can help clutches hold, but it also makes heat and steals cooler flow, so you have to balance power with reliability. Then we walk through the tow that exposed the problem. On the dyno Willard made about 450 horsepower on the big tune and about 430 on tune five with great EGT control. Hooked to the trailer at freeway speed, a 300 to 400 rpm flare under lockup told us the single disc converter clutch was slipping. We explain how to spot that, why cruise control can make it worse, and how backing the tune down saved the trip instead of making metal.From there we talk about what separates a true build from a parts list without going nuts on details. A good triple disc torque converter adds real lockup capacity. A billet input shaft and a stronger flex plate matter once you are past the mid power range. The valve body is where a lot of the magic happens, so we discuss testing on a stand, cleaning up leaks, keeping reverse pressure in check, and protecting cooler flow. At the big power end we touch on simple lube mods and rollerized planetaries so you do not friction weld expensive parts when you lean on it. If you have ever been sold a stage six without knowing what is inside, this will help you ask better questions and match the build to your goal.Along the way we naturally cover diesel performance, Power Driven Diesel, Cummins, VP44, dyno testing, turbo upgrades, drag racing, truck builds, and long tail topics like what is a built transmission, 47RE line pressure, diagnosing converter slip while towing, triple disc torque converter upgrade, valve body test stand, cooler flow vs line pressure, and second gen tow rig setup.Subscribe for more episodes and follow the Power Driven Podcast for new drops, tech talks, and real world shop lessons from the Power Driven Diesel crew.

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• The 2,000 Cummins Setup That FINALLY Lives

  We finished 52 horsepower short of the goal at the Diesel Fam event in Cedar City, but that setback didn’t last long. In this episode of the Power Driven Podcast, hosts Will and Myer sit down with Utah Custom Builder and Content Creator Wes Beaman to talk about how he brought his 6.7 Cummins build “Side Piece” to the Power Driven Diesel shop to finally hit the number he’d been chasing all season. Wes shares his background, his passion for teaching through social media, and the lessons learned from a year of testing, tuning, and racing that took him from a bare frame to a full blown competition truck.Wes explains how he started out as a hot rod guy before diving headfirst into diesel performance, using his mechanical know-how to build a truck that could make real power and still hold together. He talks about rebuilding his engine under a tight 100 day deadline, bringing the truck to life just in time for the first dyno event of the season, and pushing it hard through a string of competitions. At the Diesel Fam event, “Side Piece” came up just 52 horsepower shy of the 2,000-horsepower goal. That shortfall turned into motivation, leading Wes to bring the truck to Power Driven Diesel, where he and the crew finally put the power down on the dyno and hit his target.From there, the conversation digs deep into what it takes to build and keep a high horsepower Cummins alive. Wes, Will, and Myer break down the difference between forged and cast pistons, how ring pack placement affects bore pressure, and why certain piston designs can stress a block even when they sound like upgrades on paper. They cover injector size and fuel delivery rates, explaining how a quick fuel dump can cause a harsher pressure spike than a longer duration shot. Will adds his own dyno insight, talking about boost control, wastegate tuning, and what happens when you log 161 pounds of boost but still need the setup to stay reliable. Together, they show that smart tuning and mechanical balance matter more than chasing numbers.The episode also hits on the competition side of diesel performance. Wes talks about jumping into drag racing, learning reaction times, and understanding cage and safety requirements as the truck gets quicker. Will and Myer share stories from their own racing experience and agree that races are won in the shop long before the burnout box. They highlight how consistency, testing, and seat time are the real keys to success, whether you’re racing in the eighth mile or just fine tuning your setup at home.This episode brings together everything that makes the Power Driven Podcast stand out: real builds, real numbers, and real conversations about what works and what doesn’t. If you’re into Cummins builds, turbo upgrades, dyno testing, or drag racing, you’ll get an inside look at how to make horsepower the right way without sacrificing reliability.Be sure to subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast for more episodes, follow Power Driven Diesel on all platforms, and drop a comment if you want to see more guest features like Wes Beaman.

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• What Fueled the Start of Power Driven Diesel

  We strapped our VP44-powered Cummins to the dyno and chased that rush we’ve loved since day one, but this episode is about the stories that started it all and why we still can’t leave these trucks alone. On this episode of the Power Driven Podcast, Will, Todd, and Meyer sit down to talk about where their passion for diesel really began. From their first rides and broken parts to the moments they realized diesel power was different, this one digs into the roots of why they build, race, and push these trucks the way they do.Will remembers the early days of showing up to construction bids in a gas half-ton, getting out-pulled by the diesel guys, and realizing he needed a Cummins if he wanted to be taken seriously. That first 24 valve truck changed everything. Once he threw on an Edge Comp box and hit the dyno, he was hooked. Before long, he was racing it on weekends, wrenching late nights, and proving that a work truck could also be a street sleeper.Meyer talks about growing up on the Missouri farm, learning what torque really meant while hauling hay and running feed with his dad’s VP44 powered truck. He laughs about fixing rusty fuel pickups and making a second-gen his first real project truck. It wasn’t about showing off, it was about keeping things running and making them better with every change. That practical mindset is still what drives him today, whether he’s testing turbos, dialing in tuning, or towing across the country.Todd shares how his need for speed started on bikes before transferring to diesel. The moment he slid the fuel plate on his first 12-valve, he knew he’d found something different. The sound, the pull, the simplicity, it was addicting. He chased more power with compounds, dyno runs, and street testing, learning through broken clutches, failed parts, and the wins that make it all worth it.Throughout the episode, the guys swap stories about early forum days, backyard builds, and the trial and error that shaped Power Driven Diesel. They talk about the mix of passion and practicality that comes with chasing horsepower while still keeping your truck ready for work. It’s about learning, testing, breaking, and coming back stronger, the same mindset that built the Power Driven brand and the diesel community around it.If you’re into real world diesel performance, Cummins builds, VP44 tuning, dyno testing, turbo upgrades, or just want to hear what fuels the people behind Power Driven Diesel, subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast and keep up with every episode.

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• Best Used Dodge Cummins Trucks to Buy in 2025

  Sitting in the dentist’s chair turned into a full blown debate about the best diesel trucks you can actually buy right now without spending a hundred grand and which generation of Dodge Cummins is still king of the road. In this episode of the Power Driven Podcast, the crew sits down to talk through the best used diesel trucks for real world owners. They focus on Dodge because that’s where their experience runs deepest, covering everything from the old school 12 valve and VP44 setups to the newer common rail Cummins engines. The guys also touch on Fords and Duramax trucks, but most of the conversation centers on what makes each generation of Dodge unique, how they perform on the dyno, how they tow, and what to watch out for if you’re looking to buy one.The conversation starts when one of the hosts is asked by his dentist which truck he should buy for a daily driver and weekend warrior. That simple question turns into a deep dive through the generations, starting with the first generation classics and moving through the second and third generations that shaped modern diesel performance. The crew explains why the 1998 half year trucks are so special, how the shift from mechanical to electronic injection changed the game, and why the 98 12 valve with quad cab doors is still one of the most sought after Cummins trucks ever built. They also break down what makes the second generation platform so popular among diesel enthusiasts while pointing out the little quirks like vacuum boost brakes, steering slop, and aging wiring that every owner eventually learns to deal with.As the talk moves into the third and fourth generation years, the team digs into the big improvements that came with common rail Cummins engines and stronger automatic transmissions. They explain how the 48RE and later 68RFE transmissions changed towing for good, making it easier to handle heavy loads without beating up the drivetrain. There is also a real world discussion about emissions systems, from the rough years when DPF filters caused endless frustration to the more refined setups found on 2013 and newer trucks. The crew doesn’t sugarcoat anything, they call out what works, what fails, and why 6.7 Cummins engines with proper tuning and maintenance have become a favorite for serious towing setups and daily driving reliability.Throughout the episode, the guys talk about dyno testing, towing with built second gens, and the importance of building your truck for your purpose. Whether you are chasing horsepower numbers, towing your camper across the country, or just wanting a reliable Cummins to drive every day, this discussion covers it all. They also touch on the modern 2019 and newer trucks, explaining the problems with roller lifters and the lighter CGI block and why some owners are already converting back to old school solid lifters to keep their engines alive.This Power Driven Podcast episode is packed with hands on knowledge, no nonsense advice, and plenty of stories from the shop and the track. If you are into diesel performance, turbo upgrades, dyno testing, drag racing, and real world Cummins truck builds, this one is for you. Subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast on YouTube and Spotify, drop a comment about your favorite generation, and follow Power Driven Diesel for more truck builds, tuning discussions, and honest diesel talk from guys who live and breathe this stuff every day.

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