One "Beefy" Truck

You put a diesel in what? To make it harder, we did it in just 5 days!

From Big Block to Duramax in Five Days

One old-school dually. One LB7 6.6L Duramax. Five days to bring it all together.

What do you do when the truck you love can’t keep up with the miles ahead? For Morgan Evans, the answer was to give it a whole new powertrain.

The goal was straightforward: build a truck Morgan could count on to tow across the country without relying on a thirsty gas big block. The timeline? Just five days.Continue reading or watch the build on YouTube to see how it all unfolded.

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Morgan Evans’ 1982 GMC C3500 Build

Morgan’s 1982 GMC C3500 High Sierra dually rolled into her Florida garage on Monday, October 12, with its original gas big block under the hood. By Friday, October 16, it was back on the road with an LB7 6.6L Duramax diesel, a ZF6 six-speed manual transmission, and a completely transformed drivetrain.

With help from her fiancé, Jason, a small crew, and a lineup of industry partners, Morgan took on a project that demanded serious fabrication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Hot Shot’s Secret documented the build, while Hot Rod Magazine was on site throughout the week to capture the transformation.

Five Days. One Serious Transformation.

Five Days. One Serious Transformation.

A diesel swap is more than pulling one engine and dropping in another. Every component has to work together, from the fuel system and drivetrain to the cooling system, exhaust, and supporting hardware.

The team got to work removing the original big block and transmission before installing the components needed to bring the Duramax powertrain to life.

The build included new powertrain mounts and a transmission crossmember, a complete fuel system with a new fuel tank and lift pump, and the LB7 Duramax paired with a ZF6 six-speed manual transmission and hydraulic clutch.

The crew also modified the existing driveshaft to fit the new drivetrain, installed a new radiator support and cooling system with an intercooler, and fabricated a custom exhaust on site. Once the wiring, plumbing, and final fitment were complete, it was time to fire it up.

By Friday, the truck that had arrived running on gasoline was driving out as a diesel.

Bringing an Old Truck Back to Life

Bringing an Old Truck Back to Life

For Morgan, the project was about more than swapping engines. It was about taking an older truck and building it for the road ahead.

“There's nothing better than taking an old truck and giving it new life. After a lot of hard work and late nights, hearing the Duramax fire up for the first time made it all worth it. This 5 day build took a team effort, and we're incredibly thankful for everyone who helped make it happen!”

That first startup was the payoff for five days of hard work, custom fabrication, and a crew all working toward the same goal.

The result is a classic 1982 GMC C3500 High Sierra dually with an unmistakably modern diesel heart. And with its BEEF license plate, this truck has a name and personality to match the build.

See the Build for Yourself

See the Build for Yourself

Five days. A complete gas-to-diesel conversion. One classic GMC ready for its next chapter.

WATCH THE BUILD ON YOUTUBE

built by the diesel experts

built by the diesel experts

Big projects take the right people and the right parts. Hot Shot’s Secret teamed up with a group of industry partners to help bring Morgan’s Duramax swap to life.

COMPARING DIESEL AND GAS ENGINES

What to consider

Gas and diesel engines both have pros and cons. Morgan breaks down what both do well, and what tradeoffs you have to make when deciding which type of powertrain you're going to purchase for your needs.

If you own a diesel, additives really make a difference. We recommend treating both the fuel and oil side of your engine. If you've never treated your vehicle before, Diesel Extreme and Stiction Eliminator are a great place to start. 

SHOP THE BUNDLE

SHOP Morgan's favorites

Diesel Extreme 1qt
Diesel Extreme
from $17.99
A 1 qt bottle of Hot Shots Secret 1 Stiction Eliminator engine restorative and nano lubricant, featuring a black cap and a black label with green and white text.
The Original Stiction Eliminator
from $20.49
Morgan Evans T-Shirt
$25.00