 USDP's 2012 Dyno Day By Jim Bigley USDP's 6th annual Dyno Day was held this past June 2nd, 2012 at their headquarters located in Missoula Montana. Always a lot of fun, dyno events are a great way to spend a day learning more about diesel performance, and just being around other enthusiastic truck owners. For this year's event, hundreds of diesel enthusiasts from all across the Northwest U.S. watched as 35 of the Big Three's diesel pickups rolled across the Mustang chassis dyno.  Despite the light rain and overcast skies, the 6th annual USDP's Dyno Day was very well attended.  A view from the back lot, showing the line of diesel trucks waiting for their turn at the dyno. Tip of the day here was to keep your engine at or near operating temperature just prior to pulling into the dyno bay. Your truck will produce more power with an at-operating temperature engine and there'll be less heat stress on the engine. Generally, owners move the trucks up the line, but a dedicated driver chosen by the dyno facility (Justin Dall) will be in the driver's seat for the dyno pull. His experience is crucial to both produce the most power and to keep the process safe for everyone. Most dyno operators will allow you to sit in the passenger seat, which is helpful to flip switches or provide information about any special features the truck might have that affect power.  In addition to watching the non-stop dyno action, USDP and several aftermarket manufacturers set up product displays that demonstrate the scale and diversity of the diesel performance aftermarket. A dyno event like this gives the enthusiast access to a range of experts in the diesel performance industry. The attending company reps can answer nearly any question you might have about putting together a performance package for your own truck that meets your budget and performance goals.  The 20 Dodge Cummins-equipped trucks represented the bulk of those that spun the rollers, but winners of the three classes were shared by Ford, Dodge and GM. Blake Herman's 2008 Ford F350 6.4L laid down an impressive 482 horsepower, winning the Tuner class. The Sportsman Class was won by Jason Cass's 2006 Chevy 2500 6.6L with a run of 554 horsepower and the Open Diesel Class was won by Joshua Clarkin's 2002 Dodge 5.9L at 647 horsepower.  Seven GM trucks took their turn, with Jason Cass's 2006 Chevy 2500 6.6L taking top honors in the Sportsman Class with a great run of 554 horsepower.
I've attended quite a few dyno events going back to 1997. One minor complaint I've heard through the years has been that typical diesel truck owners just can't compete with the manufacturer/sponsored trucks. A truck having aftermarket support does have an advantage, in that horsepower takes money, and a manufacturer, dealer or vendor can tip the scales in their favor through the application of cubic dollars. Because of this, sponsored trucks are generally not included in the various competitive classes. I agree with that decision. To make it fair for truck owners, dyno event organizers are now splitting owner trucks into different classes that allow everyone to have a fair shot at winning in their class. Here are the 3 class winners at this year's USDP event:
Sportsman Class - 554-HP - Jason Cass 2006 Chevy 2500 6.6L Open Diesel Class - 647-HP - Joshua Clarkin 2002 Dodge 5.9L Aside from providing a free BBQ lunch to everyone who attended, US Diesel Parts generously awarded the following free prizes. In addition, Edge Products, BD-Diesel Performance, Bully Dog Technologies, and Diamond Eye Performance donated a range of products to the free-drawing pool and class winners. All of the various prizes were awarded throughout the day. Just about everyone ended the day a winner.
USDP carries a full range of fuel injection components, performance parts, and provides service for all three brands of diesel pickup trucks. Whether you need fuel injectors, fuel injection pumps, ARP head studs, gasket kits, fuel treatment, or performance modules from Edge, Banks, BD, PPE, Superchips etc., you'll find them all here. US Diesel Parts has greatly expanded their range products and services over the past few years. From their long-time diesel fuel injection business they have embraced the new trends in the performance and service market. Aside from nearly any aftermarket product you might read about, they also offer full-service to the diesel enthusiast - anything from a routine engine/fuel injection system repair to a full-blown performance diesel engine or transmission replacement. With their recent addition of a well-equipped service annex and highly trained staff, they can do just anything for your truck. A big thanks to the management and crew at U.S. Diesel Parts for another great dyno event. Be sure to check the www.USDieselParts.com web site for the exact date of their next dyno event, which normally occurs on the first Saturday in June. A large enthusiastic crowd and the friendly folks at USDP provide for an exciting event. If you can't make it to Montana, look for a diesel dyno event in your area. You can enter your own truck or cheer your favorite from the sidelines. Either way, you won't be disappointed. TDP For more information about USDP's Dyno Day 2012, please visit: www.usdieselparts.com Host & Sponsors: US Diesel Parts BD Diesel Performance Bully Dog Technologies Diamond Eye Performance Edge Products What's New: | Feature Articles: | Product Reviews: | Member's Area: Join Us: | Duramax Diesel Page: | Advertisers: | Classified Ads: | Books:
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