Ultimate LML

Prepping A ’13 Duramax for Four-Digit Horsepower
Hurting an engine is an inevitable outcome for many of us suffering from the diesel addiction. It’s a unique conundrum because—in an age where many scoff at the idea of 600 hp, and 700, 800, even 900hp trucks seem to be the norm—it’s hard for any enthusiast to sit back and accept mediocre while the potential exists to turn up the wick and run with the big boys. Many pursue the latter route on stock internals, only to have the hourglass quickly run out. Such was the case for the owner of this ’13 LML Duramax. The urge to make more and more power on the stock bottom end was too hard to resist, and after pushing the factory hardware to more than 800 rwhp, it developed a tick following a nasty burnout. Upon teardown, it was discovered that all eight connecting rods had been bent.

While we hate seeing stock bottom ends give up the ghost, we have to admit that these types of catastrophic failures lead to some of the best engine builds, or perhaps we should call them overbuilds. Turning to the Duramax experts at Illini Outlaw Diesel in San Jose, Illinois, this LML would be reassembled with some of the best aftermarket parts available. A girdle, keyed crankshaft, billet main caps, forged steel connecting rods, fly-cut pistons, alternative firing order camshaft, and ported heads would prep the long block for 1,000hp duty, along with plenty of other upgrades. Read on for a full recap of the ground-up build that readied this LML for “King of the Street” status. DW