How does one start off with a $225 Craigslist find and end up with a race vehicle worth well over $200,000? This is the story of Scott Birdsall and his 1949 Ford F1 pickup with a 1400 horsepower turbocharged cummins performance engine that has come to be known as Old Smokey. Scott originally bought the F1 in 2014 with plans to flip it for a profit. As the F1 grew on him, he decided to keep it for his race shop, Chuckles Garage. A few modifications soon snowballed into the tube chassis race truck that it has now become.

Dynomite Diesel Fury

In keeping with the “farm implement turned modern race truck” theme, Scott elected to swap out the Ford Flathead engine in favor of a more modern 6.7L turbocharged cummins performance engine by Dynomite Diesel race motor fortified for high horsepower and eye-popping boost pressure. The the bores received a six-pack of Hamilton pistons. The pistons make the connection to the factory crankshaft by way of Carrillo billet connecting rods. Up top, the DDP cylinder head improves the volumetric efficiency while stainless steel valves, Hamilton valve springs and titanium retainers completed the cylinder head upgrades.

 

Two is Better than One

Scott started by fabricating a custom tubular exhaust manifold to channel the high enthalpy gasses from the exhaust ports into the turbine inlet of a Garrett GTX5009R turbocharger. The gasses leaving the turbine discharge then flow into the turbine inlet of a larger, Garrett GTX5533R Gen 2 turbocharger. On the cool side, the ambient air drawn in by the GTX5009R 80mm inducer is pressurized and forced through a water-to-air intercooler before being channeled into the second generation GTX5533R 94mm inducer. From there, the mammoth GT55 framed turbo’s billet aluminum compressor wheel raises the boost pressure to a peak of 106psi as it flows through another air-to-air intercooler and a custom manifold to be distributed to the intake ports. Jarid at Breakout Tuning dialed in the fuel using a EFI Live calibrated a factory Dodge ECU for the incredible boost pressure being forced into the cylinders. Once tuned, the 6.7-liter Cummins put down a neck breaking 1,463 horsepower and 2,111 lb-ft torque. In case a little more response is needed at the bottom end, Scott added a Nitrous Express NXD375 nitrous oxide injection system fed by dual 15-pound nitrous bottles.

What’s in a Name

When asked about the course of this build, Scott commented, “We are already at the v4.0 stage of this build, as we prepare for the 2019 racing season. The prior stages of the build garnered Old Smokey plenty of attention at the 2016, 2017, and 2018 SEMA Show as well as features in various publications. This was truly a unique build from the start. First off, it’s an odd platform to make into a performance vehicle, as you normally think of something a bit sportier than a 1949 farm pickup. But that is what makes this build eye-catching and of interest to a broad audience. It’s modern suspension, chassis bracing and brakes lend to improved handling, while the hot rod and rat rod fans will appreciate the patina and insane horsepower. Drifters will love the wild powerplant and diesel heads will be turned by the Cummins 6.7L underneath the monster Garrett turbochargers. The goal is to take Old Smokey out to the track, across the salt flats and up hill climbs, and maybe set a record or two while we’re at it. It is the only 1,400+hp diesel powered vehicle in the world built for multiple motorsports.” Sporting universal appeal and a social media following in excess of 45,000 on Instagram and Facebook, expect Old Smokey to leave its mark on the 2019 motorsports scene.

Photos by Larry Chen / courtesy of Toyo Tires

Vehicle Spec Sheet 

GENERAL INFORMATION- 

Team: Chuckles Garage  https://www.chucklesgarage.com/  

Social Media Handles and Hashtags: @chucklesgarage, @oldsmokeyf1, #chucklesgarage, #oldsmokeyf1  https://www.facebook.com/chucklesgarage/

 

VEHICLE INFORMATION-

Year / Make / Model:  1949 Ford F1

Competition Class: Land Speed, Road Race, Hill Climb, Hoon

Fuel:   Diesel

 

ENGINE INFORMATION-

Engine :  Turbocharged Cummins performance engine 6.7L

Bore & Stroke (mm) / Displacement (cc): 102mm x 120mm

Peak Horsepower / Torque(@ RPM): 1,463hp / 2,111 lb-ft @ 5,000 RPM

Dyno Type:     Superflow

Engine Builder:  Dynomite Diesel

Block Modifications: 14mm Main Studs, Billet Freeze Plugs, Billet Girdle

Pistons / Compression Ratio: Hamilton

Connecting Rods / Crank: Carrillo Connecting Rods

Cylinder Head Modifications: DDP Ported, Stainless Steel Valves, Hamilton Springs, Titanium Retainers

Intake Manifold / Throttle Body: Chuckles Garage Custom Intake Manifold

Exhaust Manifold: Chuckles Garage Custom Exhaust Manifold

Exhaust System / Downpipe: Chuckles Garage Custom

Wastegate: TiAL Sport MVR Wastegates (x2)

Intercooler: Water-to-Air, Air-to-Air

Fuel Injectors: DDP Supermental

Fuel Pump(s): Industrial Injection CP3 XP Race Pumps (x2)

Additional Fuel Delivery: Air Dog 200gph Lift Pump

Engine Management System: Factory Dodge ECU

Engine Management Tuner:  EFI Live

Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous Express NXD375 System

 

TURBOCHARGER(S)                               

Turbocharger:    Garrett GTX5009R

Frame:      GT50

Compressor Wheel Specs: 80mm Inducer, 108mm Exducer, 55 Trim, .69 A/R

Turbine Wheel Specs: 99mm Inducer, 91mm Exducer, 84 Trim

Turbine Housing:   T6 .96 A/R

 

Turbocharger:      Garrett GTX5533R Gen 2

Frame:    GT55

Compressor Wheel Specs: 94mm Inducer, 133mm Exducer, 50 Trim, .96 A/R

Turbine Wheel Specs: 112mm Inducer, 102mm Exducer, 84 Trim

Turbine Housing:  T6 1.24 A/R

Peak Boost:  106psi

 

Special thanks to Toyo Tires, Airaid,