Custom Rigs Pro Tips
Suicide shortcuts
I'd like to change my '89
Peterbilt's stock doors to
suicides. I'm on a limited
budget, so what's best?
— Francisco Estrada, Dallas
Francisco, suicide doors are not an area where you can take
shortcuts. This is a project where a lot of changes need to occur.
Having to re-engineer the latch setup is difficult. What we found to be the easiest way was to eliminate the latches and use shaved door panels and Autoloc
door poppers. We make a door skin kit that includes everything for shaved
doors. If you want to give your truck a unique look without dropping a ton of
— Alex Gobel, Outlaw Customs
money, this is probably your best option.
Our top quality stainless steel products
are made using the highest grade 304
series stainless steel available. Nobody
shines like we do!
w e b s i t e : w w w. t r u c k a r m o r. b i z
e m a i l : i n f o @ t r u c k a r m o r. b i z
Phone: 1-605-239-4884 • Fax: 1-605-239-4689
Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com
Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com
Battling inefficiency
and emissions at once
Our government is concerned about
emissions, and so are most of us
in the transportation industry. We
are outdoors people, and we spend
most of our time outside, whether
we're driving, working on trucks with
the garage doors open or enjoying
sports.
Fortunately, the same things that
reduce emissions also make your
truck more efficient and profitable.
I've always believed these two
things reduce emissions: Allowing
more air to flow into the diesel
engine for combustion, and allowing
burned exhaust gases to pass freely
through the exhaust manifold, turbo
and performance muffler with as
little backpressure as possible.
The benefits of the aforementioned are improved fuel mileage,
horsepower and responsiveness, as
well as cooler engine temperatures.
Those perks remain when a semitruck is driven properly, meaning
the driver pays attention to the
turbo boost gauge, pyrometer and
tachometer.
It's all about optimization, or in
this case, the pursuit of perfection
on the part of the driver and his or
her driving habits. Driving between
58 and 62 mph also improves fuel
economy along with decreasing
emissions.
Somehow at these
speeds, we still get
where we are going.
Rarely does driving
Bruce Mallinson faster make a big
is the owner
difference in time
of Pittsburgh
Power, an engine saved, but it always
performance
costs more in fuel.
shop in
— Bruce
Saxonburg, Pa.
74 | Overdrive | August 2013
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