Banks Supercharged Duramax to be unveiled at SEMA Show

Customized ’66 Chevy showcases first of Banks’ turnkey engines

Azusa, Calif, October 18, 2021 – Banks Power, the exclusive worldwide distributor of the GM Duramax engine, introduces the first of its forthcoming turnkey (crate) high-performance diesel engines Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The supercharged Duramax 6.6L engine is the culmination of more than a year of electrical and mechanical engineering, design, and development. To showcase the new powerplant, Banks engineers chose a rusty ‘66 Chevy ¾-ton pickup, a dichotomy of new and old. Millions of fans have followed every step via the BANKS BUILT YouTube series.

Coined “LokJaw” for its threat of inducing tetanus, the truck will be on display inside AMSOIL’s exhibit in Central Hall, booth 24613. Gale Banks, Banks Power founder and Chief Engineer, will unveil the truck Tuesday, November 2^nd at 1:00 pm. And for the first time, the general public is welcome on the final show day, Friday, November 5^th.

Three turnkey engine configurations are in development including twin-turbo, and super-turbo with supercharged being the first planned release. Following the same process as Banks D866T engines which power the U.S. Army’s fleet of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), Banks-specific parts are integrated into the new engines at DMAX Ltd’s Moraine, Ohio engine assembly plant. Final assembly and test is performed at Banks’ Azusa, California engine plant. Complete engine specs to be announced.

Learn more about Banks engines here.

In July of 2006, Banks was named by General Motors (GM) Powertrain to be the world’s exclusive OE distributor for the 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel engine. The arrangement gave Banks exclusivity of the popular diesel engine for marine, off-highway, and specialty uses. Banks was chosen for its long-standing and successful history in engineering performance systems for GM Powertrain products.

The arrangement marked another in a series of partnerships between Banks and GM spanning four decades. A few of the partnerships with GM include: in 1971, Banks was named OEM supplier of Big Block Chevrolet engines to the world marine market; in 1980, Gale Banks began teaching graduate-level engine design at the General Motors Institute; and, Banks is still the first and only aftermarket company to develop a dealer-specified turbo system option for GM’s 6.2L diesel engine beginning in 1988.

Today, Banks is the exclusive supplier of engines to the U.S. Armed forces’ Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program.