Banks Sidewinder Dragster Gets More Power

Diesel World February 2012

GM Duramax 6.6L LML engine gets SUPERCHARGED at Gale Banks Engineering

Gale Banks has always been known as a hot rodder, drag racer and automotive engineer. Over the past 45 years, he has created some unique and fast cars, trucks and dragsters that have set numerous drag racing and land speed records.

Gale was an early diesel performance pioneer, calling the diesel engine a “clean-burning way to develop high performance while creating better mileage than the conventional gasoline-powered engines.”

Banks Power, in Azusa, California, developed a GM 6.6L LMM Duramax diesel engine featuring twin turbos that produced 1,250 hp and 1,300 lb/ft of torque. The foundation of the second-generation Top Diesel engine is a GM 6.6L LML Duramax diesel.

The Bennett Racing billet crankshaft was given more mass material to the crankshaft counterweights. These were then balanced to eliminate rotating mass harmonics due to increased load-created by the increased weight of the twin Fluidamper 8-inch harmonic balancers and pulley assembly on the crankshaft.

A set of Carrillo connecting rods links the Banks-designed, Mahle-manufactured 16.5-10-1 forged aluminum pistons. The engineers at Banks designed and machined a custom aluminum intake plenum and runners for optimum airflow. A pair of Banks-developed, CNC-ported, aluminum, four-valve cylinder heads delivers the precise air and fuel mixture to guarantee maximum horsepower.

The mighty Duramax gains enhanced power for a Whipple 4L screw-type supercharger. Mike Spitzer, from Greenfield, Indiana, designed and built the Sidewinder Top Diesel Dragster. The chassis was made from 4130 chrome-moly round tubing, and the chassis was covered with a carbon-fiber body and wings.

I had the opportunity to follow along as Banks Engineer Technician Mike Keegan assembled the Banks generation-two GM 6.6L RPO LML Duramax Top Diesel Engine.

1. Walking into the Banks engine assembly room was like walking into a surgical room because of the pre-assembly of the pistons, wrist pins, connecting rods and bearings.Banks engine assembly room
2. The rotating mass is linked with Carrillo standard connecting rods.Carrillo rods
3. The combustion chamber in diesel engines is actually in the top of the piston, rather than the cylinder head, as in gasoline-powered engines. A set of custom Mahle 2618 aluminum pistons was designed and machined with a specific bowl recess, conical shape and crown reliefs to create the optimum combustion performance.Mahle pistons
4. After assembling the pistons and connecting rods, Mike Keegan carefully installs the piston rings into the ring lands.install piston rings into ring lands
5. A 4.080 piston ring compression was used to keep the rings compressed in the ring lands while Mike carefully lowered the piston into the cylinder.lower piston into cylinder
6. The connecting rods and pistons were successfully installed into the cylinders.connecting rods and pistons installed into cylinders
7. Dual height gauges were used to find the TDC (exact top-dead-center) of the piston travel in each of the cylinders.dual height gauges
8. With the engine block rotated on the engine stand, we can see that the Bennett Racing billet stroker crankshaft was secured with the crankshaft main caps and ARP bolts.Bennett Racing billet stroker crankshaft
9. Notice the extra weight added to the crankshaft counterweights to dampen the rotating mass harmonics. 
10. A set of bronze valve guides was tapped into the cylinder heads.bronze valve guides
11. Next, a set of ARP head studs was threaded into the engine block.ARP head studs
12. The GM LML port and polished aluminum cylinder heads were installed onto the engine block.port and polished aluminum cylinder heads
13. Check out the custom intake plenum and pair of runners that were machined at Banks.custom intake plenum
14. The intake plenum was ported and polished for optimum airflow.intake plenum ported and polished
15-16. The intake plenum and runners were then installed atop the engine block between the cylinder heads.intake plenum and runners
15-16. The intake plenum and runners were then installed atop the engine block between the cylinder heads.intake plenum and runners
17. A Banks harmonic balancer was bolted onto the crankshaft to eliminate vibration.Banks harmonic balancer
18. After the pulley system was mounted to the billet aluminum bracket, the secondary serpentine belt was routed.pulley system
19. Mike aligns and mounts the black Whipple 4-Liter screw-type supercharger to the plenum.Whipple 4-liter screw-type supercharger
20-21. A nitrous oxide stage 2 system, along with water-methanol, is used for added neck-snapping power and torque.nitrous oxide
20-21. A nitrous oxide stage 2 system, along with water-methanol, is used for added neck-snapping power and torque.water-methanol
22. A pair of Banks custom 2 ½-inch-diameter stainless steel “zoomie”-style headers was bolted up to the cylinder heads.Banks zoomie-style headers
23. The factory LML valve covers were tentatively mounted to the cylinder heads. They will be replaced with Banks cast aluminum valve covers.valve covers
24. Large Bosch injectors were used to deliver the massive amounts of fuel of demand.Bosch injectors
25. A dual remote oil filter system with Wix 51515R filters maintains micro-clean oil.dual remote oli filter systems-Wix 51515R
26. A multi-dry sump oil system guarantees optimum engine lubrication.multi-dry sump oil system
27. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, start counting. How about 1,500 lb/ft of torque @ 6,500 rpm and 1,500 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm!1500 lb/ft and 1500 hp
28. The Mike Spitzer top fuel alcohol chassis will be home for the newly redesigned and built Banks GM DuraMax LML 6.6L Sidewinder Top Diesel engine.Mike Spitzer chassis

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