2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 HD
BY MIKE MCGLOTHLIN
If you’re raised on a farm, you’ll likely grow up to be a farmer. It’s just what you do. And if you farm in America’s Heartland, chances are pretty good you’ll take an interest in truck and tractor pulling. Things were no different for west-central Illinois native Nathan Beard. In his neck of the woods, the 8,500-pound Work Stock diesel truck class is all the rage. It consists of former work trucks, farm trucks, and daily drivers that have been transformed into highly modified versions of their former selves. Because of class rules, they’re over-fueled and under-turbo’d, yet many of the trucks in this field have no problem making 800 hp or better.
WORK TRUCK TO WORK STOCK
While watching the local Work Stock class take off in popularity was fun to watch, Nathan wanted to get in on the action himself, and by 2018 he was finally ready. To do it, he would simply “repurpose” the 150,000-mile ‘06 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD he had purchased for farm use. After a season of getting his feet wet in the sport, a host of changes were made over the winter. Then he came out swinging in 2019 with a strong, Second Place finish at the truck’s first hook. The 312-foot ride he and his Chevy made (at nearly 30 mph) definitely got our attention, so we moved in for a closer look…
DERMODY-PREPPED DURAMAX
Knowing the factory LBZ Duramax would never survive the type of abuse it was destined to see, Nathan dropped the engine off at Dermody Diesel Performance in Murrayville, Illinois. Now, an externally-balanced crankshaft (anchored in place with ARP main studs), forged-steel rods from Wagler Competition Products, and LB7-style Mahle cast-aluminum pistons are ready to absorb the kind of cylinder pressure it takes to win. For good measure, one of Wagler’s pinned oil pumps also made the cut. Up top, a pair of Wagler-ported factory heads—equipped with dual valve springs—usher more air in-cylinder.
Seeing no need to reinvent the wheel, Nathan had Dermody Diesel Performance keep things simple yet economical and effective when reinforcing the bottom end of his 2006 LBZ. Under all the Illusion Cherry powdercoated intercooler and intake plumbing, there’s a competition-prepped short-block packing an externally balanced crank, ARP main studs, Wagler forged-steel I-beam connecting rods, and cast-aluminum stock compression Mahle pistons. To ensure sufficient oil pressure is always on tap under load, a shimmed oil pump from Wagler sits in place of the factory unit, while Cen-Pe-Co Super High Performance engine oil circulates throughout the engine.