GM 8.3L Duramax Diesel: Gale Banks Does the Math
Gale Banks breaks down the math behind GM’s new 8.3L Duramax V8 (L6P “Mongoose”), evaluating its 555 HP rating, CGI block, flat torque curve, and how a Derringer tuner on an L5P beats it today.
Banks Sidewinder Dakota
This is the truck that shattered existing speed records – and people’s perception of diesel performance. Cummins diesel-powered Project Sidewinder set five land-speed records and became the World’s Fastest Pickup Truck.
Surpassing Gale Banks’ personal goal of 210 mph, the Banks Sidewinder smashed the world 159.647-mph record with an average speed of 217.314 mph, making Sidewinder the World’s Fastest Diesel Pickup! Amazing Overall Top Speed: 222.139 mph!
Try getting a pickup truck, with the aerodynamics of a brick, to go 222 MPH with a diesel engine. Banks did, and kept it street drivable too.
If you’ve never extensively modified a vehicle for performance, including a major engine and drivetrain swap, construction of a safety/chassis roll cage, and complete revision and replacement of the suspension, then you can’t imagine the amount of work required. Add a complete engine upgrade program, and all of the special equipment required for a Land Speed Record attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats, and the task becomes monumental. It takes the resources and knowledge of companies like Cummins Engine Company, New Venture Gear, Wilwood Engineering, the Progress Group, and of course, Gale Banks Engineering to create a vehicle like the Project Sidewinder Dakota. Even so, after a year of preparation, the vehicle wasn’t declared “race ready” until midnight, Oct.16th, at the Banks Race Shop in Azusa, California. The World Finals had already begun earlier that same day at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, some 700 miles away.
Built entirely in Banks’ race shop, this 735 hp, 1300 lb-ft 5.9L Cummins-powered Dakota is street driven and averages 21.2 mpg on the Hot Rod Power Tour. The Banks Sidewinder® Dakota is the official F.I.A. World’s Fastest Diesel Truck @ 217 mph (two-way average) and a best one-way of 222 mph. It also towed its own support trailer to the salt!
Project Photo Gallery
Latest News
- Helping Racers Go For 200 MPH
Banks has a storied history at the Bonneville Salt Flats, having been directly responsible for setting scores of records in dozens of classes. The Banks/Geisler Studebaker set records for 10 years in nearly a dozen classes. The Sundowner Corvette coupe was the world’s fastest passenger car in 1981 at 240 mph. In 1986, Banks came back with a Pontiac Trans-Am and ran ...Read more - The Record-Breaking Banks Sidewinder Dakota
The Banks Sidewinder Dakota, a record-breaking diesel truck, pushed the limits of diesel performance. Powered by a highly modified Cummins engine, this iconic vehicle showcased the potential of diesel power. The Sidewinder’s legacy lives on, inspiring future innovations in diesel technology.Read more - This Snake Bites at 222 MPH!
The Banks Sidewinder Dakota, a diesel-powered pickup truck, made history by setting world speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats. This remarkable vehicle, powered by a 5.9L Cummins diesel engine, achieved a top speed of 222.139 mph. The Sidewinder’s impressive performance was featured on the History Channel’s AutoManiacs.Read more - When it Comes to Racers…We Roll Our Own!
Gale Banks has a long history of building and racing high-performance vehicles. Over the years, the company has experimented with various fuels, including methanol, nitromethane, hydrogen, and diesel. Banks Power has also developed innovative turbocharging technologies and engine modifications to achieve record-breaking performance.Read more - Banks Sidewinder Blower Test Series
Want to upgrade your car, truck, or boat’s engine performance? Banks Power develops high-performance engines and parts trusted by racers and the military for over 40 years. Their expertise in forced induction systems and supercharger technology can help you achieve maximum horsepower and torque gains. Visit their website to learn more about their innovative products ...Read more - This truck eats Corvettes for breakfast
Banks Sidewinder Dakota blowing off a C6 Corvette in a street race over in VegasRead more - Worlds Fastest Pickup Truck
I just had a flash, we’ve held Worlds Fastest Diesel Pickup record at 222 mph for almost 15 years.Read more - Diesel Swaps
The Banks Rat Rod gets a Duramax, the Sidewinder Dakota gets a Cummins, and a who-knows-what gets an 866T.Read more - “Banks Power – The first 50 years” Opens at Wally Parks NHRA Museum
50 years of automotive and marine engineering innovation was put on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum to honor Gale Banks and his achievements.Read more - “BANKS POWER – THE FIRST 50 YEARS” OPENS AT WALLY PARKS NHRA MUSEUM – POMONA, CAPomona, California – – On Wednesday, December 3, 2008, fifty years of automotive and marine engineering innovation was put on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, in Pomona, California. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WoRjPCMC6k Pomona, California – – On Wednesday, December 3, 2008, fifty years of automotive and marine engineering innovation was put on display at the Wally Parks ...Read more
- No smoke with fire
Smoke free, high efficiency diesel engines are Gale Banks Engineering’s specialty. We look at how the company progressed to become the undisputed leaders in the field.Read more - One-On-One With Gale Banks
Straight Talk With the Man Largely Identified as the Creator of the Diesel AftermarketRead more - Power Broker
Here’s a guy who’s done it all and done it well, and he has the records to prove it.Read more - Drivelines Chatter: Gale Banks, Gale Banks Engineering
Gale Banks knows how to make power, whether he’s land-speed racing or improving the performance of an anemic motorhome.Read more - Engine Builder Does It Diesel
Could performance cars like Corvettes and Mustangs and others be powered by diesel engines in the future? They not only could be, but they would be if Gale Banks had his way.Read more - Diesel Power
For Decades, Fringe Hot Rodders Have Been Predicting a High-Performance Diesel Revolution.Read more - 23.6 MPG from a Truck that Runs 222 MPH!
Want More Power AND Better Gas Mileage? It’s Possible! Banks Power’s Sidewinder Dakota, the world’s fastest pickup truck at 222 mph, achieved an impressive 23.6 mpg during the grueling Hot Rod Power Tour. This powerhouse proves you can upgrade your vehicle for increased performance without sacrificing fuel economy. The secret lies in optimized airflow, a key ...Read more - Air Travel Hell: Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour (Pre-Tour)
Upgrading your ride can turn a stressful journey into a smooth cruise. Avoid cramped legroom, unreliable shuttles, and noisy neighbors with a powerful, fuel-efficient vehicle. The Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour showcases tricked-out cars and trucks that are built for performance and comfort. Check back for more details on how to transform your car into ...Read more - A Trip To The Toy Shop
Unleash the Beast: Banks Power’s Race Shop Develops Cutting-Edge Performance Parts for Your Ride. Want to upgrade your car or truck to its peak potential? Look no further than Banks Power’s Race Shop. Our team of engineers and fabricators push the limits of performance, developing world-class racing parts that translate into real power ...Read more - Banks Readies for 2004 Bonneville
The Banks Race Shop makes preparations to break its own diesel truck land speed record at BonnevilleRead more - Engineering: Banks Runs for the RecordsProject Sidewinder’s goal is to break the Land Speed Record for any pickup, any class, gas or diesel…Read more
- Banks At Bonneville
The dramatic story behind the creation of the Banks Sidewinder and its record-shattering run at BonnevilleRead more - Sideways Into the Record BookBanks sets new world speed record with the Sidewinder diesel pickup…Read more
- Gale Banks Engineering
Winning Systems for Trucks, SUVs & Motor HomesRead more - Flat Out on the SaltInside Gale Banks’ 200-MPH Dakota Land-Speed Record HolderRead more
- Banks Sidewinder Rattles Bonneville
Project Sidewinder’s goal is to break the Land Speed Record for any pickup, any class, gas or diesel…Read more - Holy Smokeless!Here’s one for the run-whatcha-brung record books. And we do mean record books. Last October 17, with the Bonneville Nationals World Finals already well underway at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, the crew from Gale Banks Engineering pulled in after driving all night from their headquarters in Azusa, Calif. They unhitched the trailer from their Dodge ...Read more
- Banks Sidewinder: The World’s Fastest Pickup!
Gale Banks Engineering’s Project Sidewinder is the fastest pickup truck on the planet. And it’s a diesel!Read more - See Sidewinder Run
Banks Power’s Project Sidewinder, a record-breaking diesel drag truck, is featured in a new video showcasing its performance at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The video includes behind-the-scenes footage of the build process, interviews with the team, and thrilling on-track action. This is a must-watch for diesel enthusiasts and fans of high-performance vehicles.Read more - Banking on Power of Diesel
Gale Banks’ goal is to push his diesel-powered Dodge Dakota to speeds up to 210 mph at the World Finals at Bonneville Flats in October. AZUSA — Gale Banks hopes that in five weeks, he’ll be driving the fastest sport pick-up truck in the world to work daily. Banks is president of Banks Engineering, an after-market company ...Read more - Diesel Land Speed Record — Goal of Project Sidewinder
210+ mph in Dodge Dakota … illustrating diesel as a performance engine … 600 hp out of 5.9LRead more - Why Diesels Make So Much Torque
For those used to gasoline engine torque numbers, diesel torque verges on the unbelievable. Most competitors at Bonneville aren’t street legal, and most arrive on a trailer. Project Sidewinder drove in pulling a trailer! The Banks Project Sidewinder, a Dodge Dakota pickup fitted with a modified Cummins 5.9L (359-cubic-inch) in-line six-cylinder diesel, made 1300 lb.-ft. of ...Read more
Latest News
Duramax CoolRunner Oil Pan: Fix Dirty Trapped Oil
Discover the dirty secret hidden in factory Duramax oil pans: an elevated drain plug that traps nearly a half-quart of contaminated sludge every oil change, and how the Banks CoolRunner pan cures it with complete drainage, FlowThru cooling fins, and +2 quarts capacity.
New 2024-2026 Duramax Monster Exhaust: True 5″
Banks introduces the world’s only true 5-inch DPF-back Monster Exhaust for 2024–2026 Duramax 6.6L trucks, using a patented Exhaust Pressure Module to cut backpressure without triggering check engine lights or melting trailers.
Banks R866SC V8 6.6L Supercharged Diesel
The Banks R866SC V8 6.6L Supercharged Diesel is an engineering powerhouse delivering 600-650 horsepower. Featuring a 3.8L Whipple supercharger and custom FEAD, this complete package is built for extreme performance.
2024-2026 Duramax Fuel Economy: Banks Derringer
Banks Derringer High Output tuner does more than just add power to your 2024–2026 Duramax 6.6L. Level 2 is specifically calibrated for improving fuel economyby adding more boost and optimizing fuel injection. And, Level 2 delivers an impressive 60 hp and 90 lb-ft to the wheels. For even more power, bump up to Levels 3-6 for power increases up to 86 hp and 178 […]
Cummins Grid Heater Bolt Fix: Banks Monster-Ram
On all 6.7L Cummins, the factory grid-heater bolt is a known risk: if it breaks loose and reaches cylinder #6, engines are replaced—not repaired—an outcome costing north of $30,000. If you do nothing: the stock grid-heater bolt stays in the system—every start is a roll of the dice, and other replacements “fixes” still choke air flow. […]
Killer Grid Heater Bolt: Hector’s Close Call
Hector’s 2015 RAM 3500 threw an intake-heater code, then his remote start system stopped working. He pulled his intake plate after reading about the killer grid heater bolt. To his horror and delight, he saw “the nut had broken off and was just sitting there” — one drive from disaster. Rather than install another factory heater plate, […]
6.7 Cummins Monster-Ram: Smooth Intake Airflow
Your 6.7L’s stock intake elbow kills airflow with its sharp bend and restrictive air path. That added restriction makes the turbo work harder and dulls response. A Banks Monster-Ram intake elbow takes a different route—literally. We rerouted the #1 fuel line and replaced the restrictive grid heater which allowed us to open the air path and remove […]
RAM Grid Heater Failure: How It Happens & The Fix
RAM 6.7L engines can suffer catastrophic damage as a result of a bolt inside the factory grid heater, which melts and drops into the intake manifold. In this 8-minute close-up, you’ll see exactly what fails, where to look on your truck, and the upgrade that removes the weak link. If you own a 6.7L, this […]
Banks Power 2025 Performance Stats | By the Numbers
Banks Power by the Numbers breaks down the real data behind a record-setting 2025—from millions of video views to testing fuel burned and parts shipped worldwide.
Gale Banks Meets Canadian Diesel Mechanic
A Canadian diesel mechanic visits Banks Power and gets a firsthand lesson from Gale Banks on air density, cold starts, and real engineering behind reliable diesel performance.
Gale Banks Visits Dave Bell at Dave’s Auto Center
“This video is a huge full-circle moment for me,” says an emotional Dave Bell, owner of Dave’s Auto Center in Centerville, Utah and the star of the wildly popular YouTube channel of the same name. “I’ve looked up to Gale Banks since I was 15 years old,” Bell continues. “His engineering and genius has paved the […]