AN 800HP LBZ DURAMAX BUILT TO DO ONE THING—AND ONE THING ONLY

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.