SMOKIN’ CAMARO
June 19, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Tasty Taillights
If you are building a street rod, sooner or later you will have to select the taillights you want to use. As with so many other parts, the taillights should match the style of the car you are building. A smooth, high-tech rod should have taillights of the same style, perhaps flush-fit diode lights that match the shape of the body. If you are building a resto rod, the stock taillights are generally used, stalk and all. Internally they can be updated with bright bulbs or a diode kit. If you are building a nostalgic or a traditional rod, there are several different lights that were used by builders in the ’50s and the ’60s. The rod seen in this story is being built in a traditional style, so there were many lights to choose from.
GOING PRO
Producing horsepower requires two major ingredients, namely, air and fuel. Of course, the two must be supplied in the correct proportions and at the proper time; but improving power is a simple matter of adding airflow. Naturally, additional fuel will be required once the airflow is improved, but the first item on the horsepower priority list should always be more airflow.
CIMTEX SUPER CAMEO: PART 9
After 1-1/2 years of preparing a rock-solid foundation for our Cimtex Rods-constructed ’56 Chevrolet Super Cameo pickup, the time finally came to hang sheetmetal, but not without experiencing a few major disappointments. “All I can say is, before you buy a truck cab or any kind of old car body, look before you leap,” commented Darrell Cimbanin of Cimtex Rods after picking up our ’56 Chevy big-?window cab from True Grit Sandblasting in Hutto, Texas. This cab was in worse condition than we originally thought. It’s easy to disguise what appears to be a good-looking truck cab with plastic filler and a nice paint job. Sometimes even the experts can be fooled.
Spotlighter
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Dieselsite Deep Transmission Pan and Filter
For the Powerstroke E4OD / 4R100 / 5R110
At The Auto Builder, we’re always on the lookout for products made by real enthusiasts—folks who don’t just sell parts, they live them. That’s why we like the team at DIESELSITE. They don’t just talk the talk—they walk the walk. These guys live and breathe diesel, and they know firsthand the problems truck owners face. They take a hard look at factory OEM designs and make them better. Period.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Product Images Courtesy of Dieselsite
What’s in the Box: Deep Cast Aluminum Transmission Pan, Gasket, Full Hardware Kit, Upgraded Late 5R110 Transmission Filter
The DIESELSITE Deep Transmission Oil Pan is a prime example of that mindset. After running several aftermarket pans on their own Legendary and Hercules transmissions, the folks at DIESELSITE wanted more—more strength, better filtration, smarter engineering—and they built exactly that.
Made from heavy-duty 356T6 cast aluminum, this pan isn’t just an upgrade—it’s an evolution. Built to protect your transmission under the toughest conditions, whether you’re hauling heavy or chasing horsepower.
Why It Matters
Unlike standard pans, this one features a reinforced, thickened flange that acts as a structural girdle. Translation: it helps prevent case twisting during high-torque abuse. Plus, with stud and flanged nut fasteners, installation is a breeze and rock-solid reliable. And because DIESELSITE knows these transmissions inside and out, they spec’d it with the late 5R110 transmission filter for maximum filtration.
Features You Actually Want:
- Increased Flange Thickness: Adds strength, prevents flex.
- Stud and Flanged Nut Fasteners: Better clamp load, easier install.
- Deep Sump: Adds about 5 extra quarts of fluid for better cooling.
- Upgraded 5R110 Filter: Cleaner fluid, longer life.
- Magnetic Drain Plug: Catches metal shavings before they become a problem.
- Temperature Sensor Port: Ready for gauges to keep tabs on temps.
The Real Benefits:
- Stronger Transmission Case: Reduces risk of catastrophic failure.
- Cooler Temps, Longer Life: More fluid = more thermal control.
- Cleaner, Protected Fluid: With filtration and magnetic drain.
- Ready to Monitor: Gage port built in.
- Smart Install: Studs provide full thread engagement for maximum clamping force.
- Filter Replacement Part Number: Ford 8C3Z-7A098-D (conveniently etched into the pan for reference)
Vehicle Fitment:
The DIESELSITE E4OD/4R100/5R110 Transmission Pan and Filter (E4R5RPAN) fits the following Ford Powerstroke diesel vehicles equipped with E4OD, 4R100, or 5R110 transmissions:
Ford F-Series Trucks
Ford F-250 / F-350 / F-450 / F-550 (1989–1998)
• 7.3L IDI Diesel (1989–1994, E4OD only)
• 7.3L Powerstroke (1994–1998)
Ford F-250 / F-350 / F-450 / F-550 Super Duty (1999–2010)
• 7.3L Powerstroke (1999–2003)
• 6.0L Powerstroke (2003–2007)
• 6.4L Powerstroke (2008–2010)
Ford Excursion (2000–2005)
• 7.3L Powerstroke (2000–2003)
• 6.0L Powerstroke (2003–2005)
Ford E-Series Vans (E-250 / E-350 / E-450) (1989–2010)
• 7.3L IDI Diesel (1989–1994, E4OD only)
• 7.3L Powerstroke (1994–2003)
• 6.0L Powerstroke (2004–2010)
Bottom line
If you’re serious about protecting your transmission, this is one of those upgrades that just makes sense. That’s how DIESELSITE does it—they don’t cut corners, they build solutions. And that’s why we keep an eye on what they do here at The Auto Builder.
CLICK HERE to head on over to Dieselsite and get yours TODAY!
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