Because we already know the TFL guys aren’t always going for hard science, and since in the land of classic vehicles, anything is (probably) allowed, we’re not going to complain about having an apples to oranges comparison. Instead, let’s have some fun with a Big Block, a Cummins Turbo Diesel, and a light but still iconic Chevy small block.
It’s still winter in the Northern Hemisphere, but one thing everyone will notice from the get-go is TFL’s racetrack of choice – baptized “Yak-adega” on the spot – doesn't have any snow on it. Instead, this improvised drag strip (actually an empty stretch of field that’s part of a farm) comes with lots and lots of signaling thanks to yaks doing their usual business after having a nice lunch.
With that out of the way, we also have to say the video doesn’t come to a specific conclusion by the end of the hostilities, as just about every truck has its strengths and weaknesses in specific conditions. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and meet the contestants.
First up for the presentation comes the 1994 Dodge Ram 2500 that has a Cummins Turbo Diesel under the hood, upgraded with “a decent amount of money.” That shouldn’t count too much in the grand scheme of things because the $8k truck also has a five-speed manual that “takes about a year to three years to get to the next gear.”
Next up is the all-black Big Block Chevy 2500 that sports a 454ci (7.4-liter) monster under the hood “that from the factory pumped out a whoppin’ 235 horsepower and 385 lb-ft” (522 Nm). It’s also equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, unlike the underdog 1998 Chevrolet K1500 Cheyenne that was bought by TFL for their upcoming series “Hell and Back.”
It’s the only one with an automatic and has a 305ci (5.0-liter) V8 under the hood that’s also good for around 230 hp – though it also comes with a lot less torque than its rivals. The first couple of drag races (the action kicks off at the 1:35 mark) take place in a favorable setup for the lightest contestant, so the 2WD part is easily won by the K1500.
Once the situation takes a 4WD turn, it’s up to the big boys to showcase their mighty engines, with the black Chevy and Dodge Ram each taking a victory home from the 3:15 mark. They try to settle the score with a very slow drag crawl race (from 5:22) before going up the mountain and then decide to have some fun by climbing the steepest hill they can find when following a nearby trail.
Well, that doesn’t go as planned either (from 6:25), as a few logs block the path and even the power tools end up losing the race against mother nature. Still, we don’t mind the distraction, thanks to a few panoramic mountain views.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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