We all have dreams and naturally, everyone has one that is different. We all either want to build something to be extremely clean or really fast. In the case of Levi Krech, we found both. Imagine a truck that is so clean, you wouldn’t lean on it, or even take it off the pavement for that matter. This same truck is actually a statement for the trust in the build to take it on 1,000-mile trips with over 1,000 horsepower.
During our trek to the Florida panhandle, en route to Diesel Thunder Spring Break, we obviously expected to see a ton of really nice trucks. Upon our arrival, we didn’t expect to see something with Wyoming license plates. Levi Krech drove his truck from Wyoming all the way to Florida for the event. If that doesn’t scream trustworthy parts, then what does?
Even towing a snowmobile and trailer through -20-degrees Fahrenheit Wyoming temperatures, Krech still obtains 20 miles per gallon. For something that could take on most muscle cars, that’s an incredibly good fuel mileage.
Levi “Whitesnake” Krech has always had a thing for having very clean, very functional trucks. But in our eyes, this one takes the cake. Krech’s 2013 Dodge Ram Longhorn 3500, named “Tron SRT” is such a clean build that it’s almost unbelievable. “I built this truck to be different,” says Krech. “The fact that it is bright red and a Longhorn, I knew this was the one.”
This truck is uber-clean, but it needs to perform in virtually every driving situation. “I love taking these nationwide road trips,” Krech says. “The fact this build can drive long trips and utilize the nasty horsepower in a matter of seconds is the best part about it.” Krech relies on Tron to work during racing, road trips, and even towing his snowmobiles and trailer.
Although Krech’s interior was packed full from the road trip, what we can tell you is that the inside is an incredible Cattle Tan leather with matching interior pieces.
This build took only four months, but Krech still stresses that there was no rush to this build. “I wanted to take my time,” he quips. “When you rush through a build like this, you will make mistakes, and that wasn’t a part of the plan.” Wheel selection is one of those mistakes that some make, and make no mistake, the 22×12 Fuel Off-Road MOAB wheels wrapped in 305/40R22 Toyo Proxes tires is definitely the right choice.
Getting the truck to this level of brightness was done with the help of Knockout Customs. They paint matched all of the pieces that would normally come in chrome, including the bumpers and grille. Team Unique did the work on the headlights and taillights by tinting them. This definitely creates a “murdered-out” look. Krech sends thanks to Cameron Guersey and Stephen Couch for the paintwork. “I’ve always wanted an everyday driver that is capable of 1,000 horsepower,” says Krech. “After many hours, I finally have my rig.”
Who do you call when you need someone to build a 1,000-plus horsepower engine, that gets excellent fuel mileage and can go on extremely long trips? Krech went to the engine experts at Freedom Racing Engines for Tron’s powerplant. The guys at Freedom offered the FRE Street Stage 2 Cummins engine. This Cummins is punched out to a 6.8-liter displacement.
From the snowy roads of Wyoming to the sandy beaches of the Emerald Coast, Tron can do it all. Beachgoers were gawking at the truck as we took pictures on the beach.
The engine is bored 0.20-inch over, houses a balanced crankshaft, and uses ARP main cap studs. When you’re making anything north of 900 horsepower, you had better be thinking about connecting rods. A lot of times they are the weak link, but luckily for Krech, Freedom uses a performance rod. Strapped to the CP Carrillo HD billet rods are a set of QSB pistons, and just north of those rests a Hamilton Cams 178/208 bumpstick.
Krech uses a combination of QA1 adjustable coilover shocks and Flight Fabrications ladder bars to sustain traction and prevent axle wrap when planting this 1,000 horsepower to the ground.
The cylinder head has been ported and polished, and breathing is handled via Manley intake and exhaust valves. You’ll also find Fleece Performance Engineering 7/16-inch pushrods, billet rocker bridges, 110-pound valve springs, and ARP rocker studs. On the fueling side of things, Tron has a Fleece Performance Engineering dual CP3 kit that feeds the injectors. Krech trusts a set of S & S Diesel Motorsports 150-percent-over-stock fuel injectors to build enough heat to help spool his air setup.
Resting on a pretty black Steed Speed exhaust manifold is a Fleece single billet S475 measuring out to 75/87/.90.
Hanging off the back of the 6.8-liter creation is a 47RE. These trucks obviously came with the 68RFE transmission, but Krech didn’t want to take any chances on having issues. So, he turned to Brian Parker, at IKT Diesel Performance, to build up the Whitesnake special. In this 47RE, he has some of the best parts the industry offered, and it results in something that is always ready for battle.
In this 47RE transmission are all billet parts from SunCoast Diesel Transmissions including a billet drum and band, a 27-spline input, 29-spline output, and billet intermediate shafts. Manually controlling the 47RE is the SunCoast Diesel PCS 2800. With this PCS, Krech can control when the transmission shifts, how the transmission shifts, and so much more. Slipping over the output shaft is a SunCoast Diesel Triple Disc torque converter that is set with a 2,000 rpm stall.
This bright red longhorn paint mixed with the custom tinting job from Krech's unique performance makes for one clean ride.
“As for the future of Tron, I eventually want to make more than 1,100 horsepower,” says Krech. “Tron is rolling proof that you can build a do-it-all-truck and still have it be reliable.” Krech sends out his biggest thanks to Chase Fleece and the entire crew at Fleece Performance And Engineering, Freedom Racing Engines, Ron Woolverton of SunCoast Diesel Transmissions, and Ben Shadday at Done Right Diesel Performance.
We asked Krech if there was anything on this build he would change, and he said, “nothing at all.”
After seeing this truck in person, it is clear that Krech is passionate about trucks and it shows no sign of slowing down. We are ecstatic to see where this truck ends up in the future and hope to see it progress even more. Who knows, maybe one day we could see this truck in the Ultimate Callout Challenge.
Do you want to see more Reader’s Rigs? This column is dedicated to showcasing what you guys and girls are driving and I need your help to give the Reader’s Rigs the props they deserve. If you would like to share yours, I want to hear about it — I can never get enough. If you want to see your truck featured as a Reader’s Rig, send a few pictures of your truck showing the engine, interior, and exterior, along with all of the pertinent information about it and I’ll make you internet famous. You can send your submissions to dieselarmy@powerautomedia.com.
