We Are Excited For This 12 Valve | Jonny Hooper AMSOIL UCC 2026

The Amsoil Ultimate Call Out Challenge (UCC) is a competitive event where diesel trucks are tested and compared, typically with emphasis on performance and preparation. In this episode, the hosts frame it as a 2026 “crunch time” period leading up to the show.

Sled pulling is a motorsport where a vehicle drags a weighted sled over a track, with the goal of pulling the greatest distance or weight. Diesel trucks are common here because they can produce strong low-end torque that helps them keep traction while the load increases.

“Dyno time” means running the vehicle on a dynamometer to measure power and torque under controlled conditions. For diesel builds, dyno sessions are often used to dial in fueling, boost, and transmission behavior so the truck performs consistently at the track.

This describes a specific drag-racing format: a short 300-foot straight-line run on an unprepared (“no prep”) surface. Short-course racing emphasizes traction and launch behavior more than top-end speed, which is why diesel tow/traction setups often get tuned for these events.

“Heads up” means two cars race each other directly with no handicap system (unlike bracket racing where slower cars get a head start). In a “heads up” setup, reaction time, launch control, and consistent acceleration matter because you’re racing the other vehicle’s actual run.

Nitrous (nitrous oxide) is an injection system that adds oxygen to the engine, allowing more fuel to be burned for extra power. On a diesel, it can be tricky because the engine’s fueling and air supply must be balanced—otherwise you can end up with less power than expected.

A 1994 12-valve Cummins is a diesel pickup built around Cummins’ inline-six “12-valve” engine family, known for its strong aftermarket support. In this episode it’s being prepped for sled pulling and dyno testing, so the engine’s hardware choices matter a lot for making power and staying consistent under load.

A “59 block” refers to a specific Cummins engine block casting/variant used as the foundation for the build. Block choice affects how the engine is machined and what internal upgrades (like pistons and rods) can be supported for higher power levels.

“20 over” indicates the engine cylinders were bored larger than stock by a specified oversize amount (commonly described in thousandths of an inch). Oversizing changes piston fitment and can be part of building for more displacement and power, but it also affects how the engine must be assembled and cooled.

The cylinder head controls airflow and combustion efficiency, and on a 12-valve Cummins it’s a major limiter or enabler for power. Keeping a stock 12-valve head can cap how much the engine can support, which is why the builder says they’re hoping to switch to a ported head.

An “188/220 cam” describes a camshaft with specific valve timing/ lift characteristics (often expressed as duration numbers). Cam timing strongly influences how the engine breathes, which affects torque curve and how well it works with turbo boost and fueling for sled pulling.

A ported head is a cylinder head whose intake/exhaust passages have been reshaped and enlarged to improve airflow. Better airflow can increase power potential, but it also needs matching supporting parts (cam, turbo/boost, fueling, and combustion chamber work) to realize gains.

“Marine wide bowl pistons” are pistons with a combustion bowl shape intended for diesel combustion characteristics used in marine applications. Bowl geometry affects compression, burn efficiency, and how the engine responds to fueling and boost—so piston choice can be a big part of getting consistent dyno and track results.

A compound turbo setup uses two turbochargers working together (typically a smaller turbo feeding a larger one) to improve boost response and maintain higher airflow at different engine speeds. Diesel sled pulling often benefits from compound setups because they can help keep torque strong across the pull.

Waggler competition rods are aftermarket connecting rods designed to handle higher cylinder pressures and RPM than stock. For high-power diesel builds, stronger rods help reduce the risk of mechanical failure when pushing boost and fueling.

“Manifold” here means manifold boost pressure—how much pressure the turbo is forcing into the intake manifold. Boost pressure is a key tuning variable on diesel drag builds because it directly influences fueling needs and cylinder pressures.

“GT55” refers to a specific turbocharger model/size family (often associated with Garrett-style turbo naming). It’s used to describe the turbo’s airflow capability, which strongly affects boost pressure and how quickly the engine spools.

Solenoids are electronically controlled valves that open to deliver nitrous through the fuel/air system. In performance builds, solenoids are commonly paired with jets to meter the exact nitrous flow.

“48” is shorthand for the transmission model used in many diesel drag builds (commonly the 48RE/47RE family in Cummins circles). It indicates the specific automatic transmission platform being built into a manual-controlled setup.

“Full manual” means the transmission is controlled without automatic shifting logic—typically using a manual valve body or shift control strategy. In drag racing, that helps the driver keep consistent shift timing and reduce unwanted shift behavior under hard acceleration.

Cody Carlson is the transmission builder the speaker credits with building the truck’s manual-controlled transmission setup. In enthusiast diesel circles, builder reputation matters because transmission calibration and hard-part selection are critical for drag reliability.

UCC is the event the speaker is preparing for, and it drives the whole conversation about spare parts and contingency planning. The key point is that it’s a multi-day competition where reliability and quick swaps matter.

The Tesla Semi is an all-electric heavy-duty truck designed for long-haul freight. It’s significant in diesel-performance discussions because it replaces the traditional diesel engine and drivetrain with electric motors, changing how power is delivered and how the truck is maintained. It may come up when people talk about the “engine” and powertrain components, even though the core hardware is electric rather than a conventional internal-combustion setup.

A “secondary 48” means a spare transmission (the same 48 transmission family) carried as backup. Drag events often involve multiple runs over multiple days, so having a ready-to-swap transmission reduces downtime if the primary unit fails.

“Turbos” refers to the turbocharger(s) on the truck, and the speaker notes a history of turbo failures. Turbo reliability is often the limiting factor in high-boost diesel drag builds because heat, boost pressure, and oil/cooling conditions can push components beyond their comfort zone.

The “eighth mile” is a shorter drag racing distance (1/8 mile) that’s sometimes used at tracks or events for quicker, tighter runs. It can change how a build’s power delivery and gearing feel compared with quarter-mile racing.

The quarter mile is a drag-racing distance (about 402 meters) used to measure acceleration and elapsed time. When someone quotes a time like “10.8,” they mean how many seconds it took to cover that distance from a standing start.

“60-foot” refers to the time it takes a drag car to reach 60 feet (about 18 meters) from the start. It’s a key metric because launch traction and drivetrain control heavily influence the rest of the run.

Diesel engines use compression ignition instead of spark ignition. In performance diesel circles, the engine’s fueling strategy and turbo/boost control are often the main levers for making big power.

Common rail is a diesel fuel-injection system where high-pressure fuel is stored in a shared “rail” and delivered to injectors as needed. It enables precise control of injection timing and fueling, which is why many modern high-power diesel builds focus on common-rail tuning.

“CC 2026” is the event the speaker is preparing for, framed as a multi-event competition with goals like finishing all events and achieving dyno milestones. It functions as a key storyline anchor for the episode segment.

“A thousand horse” is shorthand for making around 1,000 horsepower on the dyno, a major milestone in diesel performance. It’s often used as a benchmark because it typically requires significant fueling, turbo/boost, and engine-strength upgrades.

A single-turbo setup uses one turbocharger to force more air into the engine, improving power. In compound setups (multiple turbos), the airflow and spool behavior change a lot, so comparing single-turbo vs compound is a common way to diagnose power and drivability issues.

Data logging is recording real-time engine parameters (like boost, fuel delivery, temperatures, and sensor readings) while driving or on a dyno. In tuning, it helps identify what the engine is actually doing so calibrators can adjust fueling and boost safely.

Diagnostic capabilities refer to how well a vehicle’s electronics can detect faults and report information (often via scan tools and sensor data). Better diagnostics can speed up troubleshooting when power is inconsistent or when compound turbo behavior doesn’t match expectations.

A long block is an engine sold as a partial assembly—typically the block and internal rotating components—without all the accessories and external components that come with a complete engine. In the diesel world, buying a long block is a common budget path, but availability and pricing can change over time.

“12 valves” refers to a diesel engine head design with 12 valve openings per cylinder bank (commonly discussed in the context of certain inline-six Cummins engines). Enthusiasts often chase these engines because the valve layout is associated with a strong, tunable performance platform and a big aftermarket.

A “VP truck” is a diesel pickup categorized by its fuel-injection hardware—specifically trucks built around VP-style injection pumps. In competition, that classification matters because it determines what modifications are allowed and how trucks are compared.

“VP pumps” refers to the Bosch VP44-style diesel injection pump family (often discussed in Cummins/VP-equipped setups). These pumps are a major part of how the engine meters fuel, and they’re a common focus for diesel performance builds and class rules.

In diesel performance builds, “transmissions” are a key drivetrain component because they must handle high torque from tuned engines. Upgrading or replacing them is common when pushing power, especially in competitive classes.

A “head gasket” is the sealing layer between the engine block and cylinder head that prevents coolant and combustion gases from mixing. Diesel performance and high heat/pressure can make head gasket failures a known concern, and the host’s mention implies it’s a costly item in the build/repair world.

“Oil coolers with oil in my coolant” describes a failure mode where the oil-to-coolant heat exchanger leaks, allowing engine oil to contaminate the coolant. That can indicate a compromised cooler seal and is a serious maintenance concern because it can affect cooling performance and engine health.

In a race truck context, a “cage” usually means a roll cage: a welded metal framework inside the cab designed to protect occupants during a crash or rollover. It also stiffens the chassis/cab structure, which can help the truck stay more predictable under hard launches and impacts.

“Hub City dirt drags” is an event the host’s guest says is the truck’s main promoter and a key place they’ve been involved with. It’s described as a dirt-based drag-style competition (not asphalt/blacktop), which changes traction and setup priorities.