Engine Building Zen Video: Watching This 500hp, 12.7L Detroit Diesel Come Together Is Awesome


Engine Building Zen Video: Watching This 500hp, 12.7L Detroit Diesel Come Together Is Awesome

There are engine building videos that strike us as cool because of how they are shot, maybe some creative angle about the content, or a gimmick that we love. This is a totally different deal. This video is one of the most satisfying and relaxing engine builds we have ever seen caught on film. Between how insanely clean and nice everything is to the cool older dude with the toothpick in his mouth just handling business, we’re loving all of it. There is a backing track to it but nothing that will drive you crazy.

The video was made at the shop of Fitzgerald USA the massive truck dealer, Glider Kit company, trailer dealer, parts retailer, and generally bad ass huge truck operation. These guys built a custom hauler for Alex Laughlin’s NHRA pro stock operation in like a week and the truck is one of the most awesome in the pits and everyone loves it, especially the guys who drive it.

This 12.7L Series 60 Detroit is a good engine. They were the defacto base choice for Detroit Diesel buyers after the 11.1L engine was discontinued in 1998. Rated up to 430hp from the factory, the fact that this one is cranking 500+ means that it has been lightly warmed up and not hot rodded to within an inch of its life. A little fuel and a little more boost and voila!

In 2001 the 12.7L engine became 14.0L and that was kind of the ultimate version of the Series 60. While this engine family is not the most cutting edge in the world it is dead nuts reliable, there are parts everywhere, and whatever rig this one ended up in is being shoed by a guy who is not praying for more umph when climbing the hills.

Press play to see this big Detroit Diesel inline six get built from scratch –


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