Auburn ECTED (35-Spline JK Model)
While we mentioned the front ProRock JK axle under a fullsize Dodge in last month’s issue, we felt the Auburn ECTED deserved its own entry since we’ve had quite a few questions about it. The ECTED was dropped into the Dynatrac axle as we built it, and the JK ECTED model is the only Dana 44 (based) 35-spline ECTED available due to the bigger journal bearings found on the JK 44 (compared to a standard Dana 44 differential).
Upon first driving down the road (after installation was completed), everything was smooth as both front tires basically spun at the same speed. When we got to a corner and turned the steering wheel, some grinding sounds came out of the front—grinding scary enough to make us pull over and check the front end. It turns out that our clutches were just initially breaking in, were a bit tight, and had to get some friction modifier in between the clutch packs to allow smooth movement. The grinding noise happened around a few more corners over the next couple days, but has since been silent for the last 5,000 miles.
There is no pull from side to side in 2WD or 4WD on the pavement and there was no strange feeling in the steering with the clutch-driven limited slip ECTED differential (even though people had warned us of these two issues with a front limited slip). The added traction has been excellent, and we have rarely even have to flip the switch and engage the locking mechanism in the ECTED for extra traction. The ECTED has been a great addition to the front end of the truck.
Bulletproof Diesel Parts for 6.0L Powerstroke
About two years ago, we limped our seemingly always-busted ’03 6.0L Super Duty to Arizona to try out a couple new products from an emerging company called Bulletproof Diesel. Our Super Duty rarely ran correctly, and never for more than five months at a time. We knew that the truck was a basically good platform that just had some big bugs that would keep this truck from running correctly, and all were engine-related, including four turbochargers that failed. We told our tale to the Bulletproof Diesel guys, explaining everything that had gone wrong, and they asked us to get out to Arizona because they had two new products that would likely solve our problems and prevent all the other parts from failing.
In Arizona, the Bulletproof crew added their EGR cooler and remote oil cooling system to our truck. These two kits replaced parts that seemed to be the bane of many 6.0Ls, and ones that we ultimately realized had caused compound problems that contributed to killing multiple turbochargers, a FICM (fuel injection control module), and two sets of fuel injectors.
To put it simply, the Bulletproof Diesel parts saved our truck. At one point we were ready to leave the keys in the ignition in a bad part of town and see who would steal it, but the EGR cooler and remote oil cooling system have literally turned this truck into an everyday driver that has been running correctly since we made the haul to Arizona.
If you’ve got a 6.0L (even in a Ford van) that has caused you countless headaches, we’d suggest calling Bulletproof Diesel to save your 6.0L Ford.