We're glad to see diesels making such a strong comeback in the United States. After a couple diesels in the '80s (which shall remain nameless) soured our country on the whole idea of high-compression-and-no-spark-plug powerplants, it took years for our country to catch up to what the rest of the world figured out years ago: Diesel engines are considerably more efficient than gasoline ones, and we can use that to our advantage. In the next few years you'll see diesels in many popular vehicles that only offer gassers right now. And we're guessing that eventually diesels will be the majority powerplant in passenger vehicles you drive every day. So this buyer's guide is devoted to all you ahead-of-the-game diesel drivers.
Smoothing Out the Bumps
Diesel trucks are a bit rough-riding in general. They're built for high-load capacities and on the tight budget the manufacturer's bean-counters put on their engineers. Lorenz Industries has the solution to Dodge owners' woes with its different levels of suspension kits to give your bucking bronco a Caddylike ride. Lorenz has just added a 2.25 Sway-A-Way system that comes at a good price for a great ride. The kit comes with everything you see here, from the infinite-rate coils and 2.25 SAW shocks to the mini packs and limiting straps. If you want to step up to something more aggressive, Lorenz has dual-purpose load-carrying leaf packs, billet arms, and 2.5 SAW shocks as well. Information: Lorenz Industries, www.lorenzindustries.com
A Shot to Your ECU
Banks has a new Bullet in its arsenal: The Bullet entry-level tuner and boost gauge is a low-priced upgrade to juice your diesel with. It has three power levels-Stock, Tow, and Sport-and can be changed from one to another on the fly. You can also upgrade your Bullet with an optional thermocouple kit, which will give you EGT readers and safety limits built into your tuner. Information: Banks Engineering, 866.602.4312, www.bankspower.com
Duramax Driveshafts
Lifting your Chevy or GMC Duramax? You might get some vibration out of that driveline, so it's a good idea to add Pro Comp's CV front driveshaft to your ride. The CV front 'shaft will account for the drop in your differential height and will make sure that your ride is kept as smooth as possible. Information: Pro Comp Suspension, 800.776.0767, www.procompmotorsports.com
Go Go, Power Puppies
Bully Dog Technologies has come up with a new type of downloader for all of the Big Three's new diesel releases this year. It's called the Power Pup and provides a user with additional power, performance, and fuel economy while safely downloading into the ECU of your Ford 6.4, Chevy LLM, or Dodge 6.7. The Power Pup also doubles as a DTC reader and can adjust a factory speedo should you do something crazy like putting bigger tires in place of those little pizza-cutters treads. Information: Bully Dog, www.bullydog.com
Diff Cover For Dodges
Would you like a diff cover for that brand-new axle under your '03-and-later Dodge 2500 or 3500? Check out PML's line. The company has just released one for the AAM 9 1/4 front axle under your 4x4 Dodge that holds a half-quart more than a stock cover and gives you a check and drain plug to boot. The gasket flange on the cover is 3/8-inch thick to ensure a leak-free seal to the axle, and the cover even comes with an undrilled boss just in case you want to throw a temperature sender on your rear axle. Information: PML, 310.671.4345, www.yourcovers.com
Big Bumpers
Need an appropriate bumper to put on that monster diesel truck of yours? Outfit it accordingly with a bumper that will take down a mountain should you run into one. Fab Fours has bumpers for Chevy, Dodge, and Ford fullsize trucks, including the new '08 Super Duty. They're available with a variety of options and can provide maximum protection for you and your truck. And with 1/4-inch centersections and 5/16-inch winch mounting plates, these beefy bumpers will take quite a beating before you see them distort. Information: Fab Fours, 866.469.9058, www.fabfours.com