WhistlinDiesel’s 17-Turbo Ram Is Insanity On Wheels

Cody Detwiler (@WhistlinDiesel) has done it again. His latest project? A 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins strapped with an absurd 17 turbochargers. If that sounds excessive, it’s because it absolutely is. And as expected, the experiment didn’t go quite as planned.

Detwiler, famous for his extreme automotive builds and destruction tests, started with a stock Cummins-powered Ram producing 397 horsepower on the dyno—plenty for most people, but not nearly enough for him. With the help of his team, he set out to mount 17 turbochargers onto the 5.9-liter (359 cubic-inch) Cummins I6 turbodiesel, aiming for a completely ridiculous power figure. Estimates ranged anywhere from 1,000 to 20,000 horsepower, depending on how many laws of physics they were willing to ignore.

Once installed, the massive turbo setup actually worked. On startup, a few turbos spooled up, and the truck began making boost. Thick clouds of diesel smoke filled the air as the crew cheered on their creation. But the real test came at a diesel performance event, where Cody put the truck through a high-revving burnout.

At first, the turbos struggled to build power. Then, suddenly, everything kicked in, sending the rear tires spinning and filling the venue with an apocalyptic smoke show. But the fun didn’t last long. Within seconds, the engine overheated, and flames erupted under the hood. The team rushed to shut it down, but by then, oil was burning, components were glowing red-hot, and the truck was on its way to becoming a fireball.

Despite the fiery ending, Cody remained in good spirits, jokingly thanking his fabricators and laughing off the destruction. Whether this Ram can be salvaged remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—nobody will ever see another Ram with 17 turbochargers anytime soon.