Open your eyes and you will find that the Powerstroke/Cummins/Duramax are all around or exceeding 300hp/500ft/lbs torque and have been for quite a few years. While US truck diesels are different from MB diesels they are not inferior designs. Consider what they are used for: Pulling things! They don't just loaf down the highway with a few passengers at 75+mph. They can do it with 10K hanging on the hook. Mile after mile year after year. Most US truck diesels will pull their max payload and beyond for 200+K, many without the lavish maintainence that our beloved MB's get. I just can't stand the snobbish crap I hear here sometimes. Most US diesel worktrucks spend a hellish life getting the crap beaten out of them. That they survive at all is amazing. Thats the reason they are overbuilt. Getting back to the original post, I wouldn't mess with removing the precups but it is interesting to note that when GM modified the 6.2NA motor to the 6.5TD the combustion holes in the precups was increased by about 20%. It has been noted that when 6.2's are run with the larger precups they make more power. That may be a place to start, slightly increasing the holes by grinding them out adn polishing smooth. Sorry about the rant. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K