Power Driven Podcast

What does it actually cost to build a diesel that makes real power? More importantly, what does it cost when you buy the wrong parts?

This week on the Power Driven Podcast, the guys are pulling back the curtain on one of the most debated topics in the diesel performance world: cylinder heads. Whether you're building a Cummins street truck or chasing records in a purpose built race rig, the head you choose can be the difference between a truck that dominates and one that leaves you stranded with a pile of parts you can't use.

The crew breaks down the real cost of high performance cylinder heads, from shelf heads running factory valves all the way up to full custom builds pushing toward the $9,000 to $10,000 range. They talk about why a premium head is an absolute must once you start adding big turbos, stacking boost, and pushing into serious horsepower territory on a diesel engine build. A poor flowing head will cap you out fast, no matter how much fuel and air you throw at it.

But it's not all about top shelf builds. One of the most important takeaways from this episode is knowing what your truck actually needs. The guys get real about matching parts to your goals, because throwing a race spec head onto a 500 horsepower street truck is just burning money. They dig into the middle ground too, including valves, springs, connecting rods, and pistons, and how the diesel aftermarket is maturing to give builders more competitive options at better price points than ever before.

They also give a glimpse into what's being developed in the shop right now for the upcoming UCC build, which is shaping up to be one of the most serious Cummins engine builds the Power Driven team has ever put together. Meyer has been deep in the R&D on a head that could set a new standard for the platform, and the guys are genuinely fired up about where it's headed.

Spring is coming. Race season is right around the corner. If you've got a build on the table, this is the episode to listen to before you start buying parts.

What happens when a truck you built for testing accidentally becomes the perfect race weapon? That's exactly what we're dealing with heading into the NHRDA Diesel Desert Nationals in Chandler, Arizona, and we are fired up about it.

In this episode of the Power Driven Podcast, we're breaking down everything you need to know about the brand new Blue Collar Class, a street truck drag racing format that is turning heads in the diesel performance world. No boost launches. No prepped surfaces. No Christmas tree countdown. They line you up, flip on a flashlight, and when it goes green, you go. That's it. It's the closest thing to a real stoplight race you'll find at a sanctioned event, and we are here for every second of it.

The class has strict turbo size limits based on your platform, a 7,000 pound minimum weight requirement, and a 400 tread wear tire rule so you can't just show up on a full race setup and blow the doors off everybody. They want real trucks driven by real guys, and with a $300 entry fee and a $20,000 payout purse on the line, the competition is going to be serious.

Here's the wild part. Our 12 valve test rig Vin-D, the truck we've been running injector tests, tow tests, and dyno pulls on for months, just so happens to sit right around 740 horsepower with a 67.9mm turbo and a towing cam. We did not build this truck for the class. It just worked out that way. Now we're going to dial in the wastegate, throw on some fresh rubber, and see what this thing can do when the light goes green from a dead idle.

We also talk about which platforms have the real advantage in a class like this, why common rails could be tough to tame off the line, and what it would take to actually build the perfect Blue Collar Class truck from scratch. If you've ever wanted to go racing without dropping a fortune on a purpose built drag truck, this episode is going to get your gears turning.

Ever dropped a stack of cash on a diesel performance mod and wondered why your truck drives worse than before? Yeah, we've been there. In this episode of the Power Driven Podcast, Todd, Myer, and Will sit down in the race shop to talk about the modifications that people do to their diesel trucks that either flat-out ruin them or just don't deliver what they promised.

We kick things off with the age-old debate about leveling kits, stance boy wheels, and oversized tires on diesel trucks. Will's got some strong opinions here, and if you've ever wondered why your second gen Dodge or third gen Cummins follows every groove in the asphalt like a shopping cart with a bad wheel, this is the conversation you didn't know you needed. Spoiler: your ball joints aren't happy either.
From there we get into the performance mods that sound great on paper but end up costing you more than they're worth. We're talking oversized injectors, 13mm injection pump sizing on builds that have no business running them, and the classic mistake of throwing the biggest, baddest parts at a tow truck that just needs something sensible. We hear from guys constantly whose 12 valve Cummins or VP44 went from awesome to terrible overnight chasing a spec sheet.

We also dig into the intake horn debate with real dyno testing data, cold air intakes, intercooler upgrades, diesel exhaust systems, and the old school practice of dropping compression with oversized head gaskets. All covered with actual shop floor experience, not just YouTube theory.

The big theme of this episode? Right-sizing your build for your actual goals. Whether you're towing, pulling, or just want a badass street diesel, matching your parts to your power level makes or breaks the whole thing.

If you've ever had buyer's remorse on a diesel truck build or you want to avoid it, this one's for you.

Everybody loves boost. The higher that gauge climbs, the better, right? Well, not exactly.

This week on the Power Driven Podcast, Will and the guys get into one of the most argued topics in diesel performance. Boost. What it actually means, why more of it doesn't always equal more power, and where the whole "boost is just a measurement of restriction" idea even came from.

The conversation started after a buddy rolled in from Washington with a 6.0 Power Stroke on one of their new 68mm GT turbos. The thing laid down 662 horsepower to the wheels on completely stock heads and a stock intake. At only 33 pounds of boost. Meanwhile builds running 45 to 50 pounds are struggling to match that number. So what gives?

Turns out the number on your boost gauge is only part of the story. What's happening on the exhaust side, how well your cylinder heads flow, your intercooler efficiency, air density, exhaust back pressure, all of it plays into how much power actually makes it to the tire. The guys break all of that down in a way that actually makes sense whether you're building a diesel drag truck, a tow rig, or just trying to get more out of your daily driver.

They also get into why diesel turbo technology has quietly lapped the gas performance world, the real reason gasoline engines can make insane power at lower boost, and the tuning strategy behind the Junker's 1,170 horsepower 12 valve build.

Plus the age old turbo sizing debate, why chasing peak dyno numbers can actually ruin a truck, and why the best feeling diesel you've ever driven probably wasn't the highest horsepower one.

You don't feel a horsepower number. You feel fun.

If you want to go deeper on diesel performance, turbo theory, and real world builds, subscribe to the Power Driven Podcast and leave us a review. It helps more diesel guys find the show and keeps the conversation going.

Ever wonder if cylinder heads actually matter on your diesel truck, or if it's all just turbo talk? In this episode of the Power Jam Podcast, we're diving deep into the world of cylinder head performance after picking up a massive 73 horsepower on our short bed 12 valve Cummins with our stage two street performance head.

For years, diesel guys have been told that boost solves everything. Got a restrictive head? Just add more boost and call it good. We're here to bust that myth wide open and explain why your engine actually cares about head flow, even when you're running a turbo. Whether you're driving a 12 valve, 24 valve, or common rail Cummins, understanding how air actually moves through your engine is the key to unlocking real power.

We break down complex concepts like pressure differential, coefficient of discharge, and port velocity in ways that actually make sense. No engineering degree required. You'll learn why bigger valves aren't always better, why some expensive ported heads actually perform worse than stock, and how something as small as a valve job can make or break your entire build.

This isn't just theory either. We talk real world results from trucks like Vendee, which is making 739 horsepower on a single turbo while staying remarkably clean. We discuss the differences between tow heads, street heads, and race heads, and help you understand which option makes sense for your application and budget.

Whether you're building a dedicated sled puller, a reliable tow rig, or a street truck that needs to last, we cover everything from intake shelf modifications to induction hardened seats. We even tackle common questions about dimpled ports, oversize valves, and why some performance heads fail sooner than others.

If you've ever wanted to understand what really happens inside your diesel engine and how to make smart decisions about cylinder head upgrades, this episode is for you. We keep it real, keep it practical, and give you the knowledge to make your truck perform better without wasting money on parts that don't deliver.