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 Twin-Turbo Trans Am GTA
World’s Fastest Passenger Car
Running on nothing but straight gasoline, this Banks twin-turbocharged Firebird scorches the Salt at 287 mph to become the new World’s Fastest Passenger Car. Despite dozens of challenges, Banks ‘Bird held the title for 10 years.
1987 Pontiac Trans Am GTA World Record 267.618 mph
Clocking a 277 mph, mile and a 268 mph two-way record, Banks’ 1987 Twin-Turbo, 1800 hp, gasoline-burning big block Pontiac GTA, set a passenger car standard that would stand for ten years. As a result, the Banks’ team, beginning with the Hanky-Panky Studebaker in 1978, followed by the Sundowner Corvette in 1981, and finally the Twin-Turbo GTA in 1987 through 1997, held the record for the “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” for two decades.
A Banks Power twin-turbo, 1800-hp Pontiac GTA set a new “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats at 277 mph as certified by the Southern California Timing Association. This record stood for the next ten years.
“The three-year buildup paid off during the 38th annual Bonneville Speed Trials when the Banks ‘Bird nabbed the class win, making it the World’s Fastest Passenger Car. And that was on gas with ‘only’ 22 pounds of boost; the twin hairdryers will generate a maximum of 38 pounds of boost!” —Hot Rod Yearbook
Working with Pontiac, the Banks Trans Am GTA was developed to break the previous record for a gasoline-powered stock-bodied passenger car that was held by Banks. Powered by a Gale Banks marine-based 454 ci GM engine producing about 1,700 hp, the Trans Am reached a terminal speed of 283 mph under rainy conditions at Bonneville. Tire testing revealed front tire failure at ~282 mph, preventing the Trans Am from reaching its goal of 300 mph. Its average speed of 267.618 mph made the Trans Am the world’s fastest stock-bodied passenger car on gasoline. The Banks Trans Am GTA would hold the record for the next 10 years.
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Latest News
- Rick Young | Speed School Podcast EP 2
Gale Banks welcomes Rick Young, Banks’ 12th employee. Gale erupts in infectious laughter as Rick recalls hilarious antics during the company’s early years.Read more - Ep 1 – Speed School Podcast with Gale Banks
Gale Banks welcomes Csaba Csere, former technical director and editor-in-chief of Car and Driver. The two laugh about making history in a 700-hp, 200-mph street-legal Pontiac Trans Am. And, a hair-raising tale of a 170 mph test drive down a Southern California highway that almost cost their lives. Gale answers your questions. Check out this episode!Read more - 1986 Banks Trans-Am Smashes Record
Banks Trans Am Crushes Speed Record at 267 MPH! The Banks Power team joined forces with Pontiac and Popular Mechanics to create a record-breaking Trans Am. This powerhouse featured a monster 1,500 horsepower twin-turbocharged engine built by Gale Banks. After just three years of development, the Banks Trans Am obliterated the 1968 record of 201 mph. ...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 - Black Line Fever: 283 mph with Gale Banks.
Discover why the Pontiac Trans Am remains the undisputed king of speed. Learn how its aerodynamic design and immense power potential, as showcased by the record-breaking Banks/Pontiac Twin Turbo GTA, make it the ultimate choice for performance enthusiasts seeking to push the boundaries of automotive speed.Read more - Twin-Turbo Revival: Part 1
The History and Evolution of the Gale Banks Engineering Twin-Turbo Chevrolet V-8s Shown is one of Banks’ original blow-through-design twin-turbo small-block Chevrolet engines. These first-design “production” twin-turbos went into Banks’ GT Firebirds and Camaros. The engines made 500, 600 or 700 hp, depending on the depth of the customer’s pockets. Unless you’ve been living in a cave ...Read more - Twin-Turbo Revival: Part 2
Back to the Future: Fast-Forward Firebird Now for the kicker. Gale Banks recently pulled one of his original twin-turbo Firebirds out of mothballs, and it’s about to receive a Banks Revival twin-turbo small-block Chevrolet engine, and all the modern goodies to go along with it. Now, this isn’t just any ol’ ’84 Firebird—this one shows 15,000 ...Read more - Salt Shaker
Gale Banks Engineering’s 1988 Pontiac Trans Am is the World’s Fastest Street MachineRead 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 […]