SEMA 2013: BD Diesel Performance Steps Up The Game

Throughout history, many of the greatest performance advancements came to be through racing. So, we at Diesel Army are always interested when companies not only get involved in racing, but jump head first into it. As we came to find out by stopping by BD Diesel Performance’s booth while at the SEMA Show, they just completely bypassed sticking their foot in the water to test the racing environment, they just plunged right in like a polar bear!

BD Diesel Performance made a dedicated effort to support 16 racing teams this year. The teams were split between sled pulling and drag racing, but the results are for all to share. “We really wanted to focus on diesel engines producing 800 horsepower,” says Brian Roth, President of BD Diesel Performance.

One of the biggest trends that Roth is seeing is major interest in their diverter valve. The diverter valve works by directing all of the exhaust in the exhaust manifolds into one side of the turbine housing (needs to be a dual volute for this to be of use). By diverting all of the flow into one side of the housing, the housing reacts essentially like a housing half its size. This means that initial spool up is greatly improved resulting in not only better throttle response, but true drivability of a large single turbo.

Over the past year, they have been working with a number of their sponsored racers trying to get this dialed in. “We had to basically change a lot of the internals to get these to really work right, but now that we have it dialed, the guys are doing really good,” continued Roth. He even mentioned that one of the racers is in the race for a title and knocking on the door of sub 10 seconds in the quarter mile.

In addition to the diverter valve, BD Diesel Performance has introduced a whole host of exhaust manifolds, up pipes, new compressor covers for sled pullers, transmission upgrades for the 68RFE, a new 58-volt FICM for the 6.0Ls, an exhaust brake for the 6.7L Power Strokes and even completely redesigned their lift pumps all this year. They have been extremely busy which is evident by all of these new products.