Some companies in the diesel aftermarket sell horsepower. BD Diesel sells trucks that don't break. Out of their Canadian shop, BD has spent fifty years building the parts that fix the things the factory should have gotten right the first time — cracked exhaust manifolds, weak head studs, slipping transmissions, sloppy steering, undersized cooling. If something on your diesel is a known weak point, there's a very good chance BD makes the fix.

That reputation matters because most owners don't shop diesel parts to win horsepower bragging rights — they shop to keep the truck working. BD's whole catalog is built for those owners. Here's the no-fluff guide to what BD makes, why it works, and which BD parts belong on your diesel. Want it bundled with the rest of your build? Send us your specs.

Who is BD Diesel, and why does the diesel world trust them?

BD Diesel Performance has been engineering and manufacturing diesel-truck reliability and performance parts since the 1970s out of British Columbia, Canada. That's older than most of the rest of the diesel aftermarket. Their reputation isn't built on marketing fluff or catalog-grade parts — it's built on the fact that BD owns their own foundry, their own machining, and their own engineering. When BD says they fixed something, they fixed it.

What that means for you as a buyer: BD's parts are designed by engineers who understand the failure mode, manufactured in-house to spec, and tested in real trucks. There are very few companies in the diesel space with that level of vertical integration, and it shows in the parts.

The BD lineup, decoded

BD makes a lot of things. Here's the cheat sheet on the parts that actually matter — and the ones the diesel world keeps coming back to.

BD Exhaust Manifolds (Pulse, Pulse Flow, Pulse Track Master)

This is BD's headline product, and arguably the single most-installed BD part across the diesel world. The stock exhaust manifolds on the 5.9 Cummins, 6.7 Cummins, and 6.0/6.4 Power Stroke are famously prone to cracking — usually right where you'd hate to crack one. BD's manifolds are cast-iron, pulse-tuned, and engineered to not crack. They flow better, hold up under harder use, and outlast the trucks they're bolted to.

The Pulse Track Master is the flagship — a divided, pulse-tuned manifold that improves spool and reduces heat loading on the turbo. The Pulse Flow is the mid-tier option for owners who want better flow without going all the way to a full divided design. Either is a massive upgrade over the cracked-from-the-factory unit you're trying to replace.

If you've ever heard a Cummins or Power Stroke owner complain about manifold studs, exhaust leaks, or top-end ticks that come and go, this is exactly the fix.

BD Head Studs

The factory torque-to-yield (TTY) head bolts on a 6.0/6.4 Power Stroke and a number of other diesels are a known weak point under any kind of boost. BD's head stud kits — ARP-style, fully hardened, properly machined — bolt the heads down to the block correctly so they stay there when the truck is making real power. Required reading: our companion guide on bulletproofing the 6.0 Power Stroke (coming soon) covers this in depth.

The TL;DR: if you're tuning a 6.0 PSD and you haven't done head studs, you're on borrowed time. BD's are the right ones to buy.

BD Built Transmissions

BD's transmission business is one of the deepest in the diesel space. Built units, valve bodies, torque converters, and complete drop-in upgrades for every common platform:

• 68RFE (Ram Cummins) — the trans that needs the most help. BD's 68RFE upgrades address the valve body, the apply circuits, and the clutch packs that limit factory durability.
• Allison 1000 (GM Duramax) — solid from the factory, but BD's billet flexplates, valve bodies, and built variants take it to the next level.
• 4R100 / 5R110 / 6R140 (Ford Power Stroke) — full lineup of upgrades for the Ford autos that need them.
• 6L80 / 6L90 — for the gas-and-diesel-hybrid GM trucks running these units.
• NV4500 / NV5600 / G56 / ZF6 — manual transmission parts, sync kits, and rebuild support.

Browse the transmission & clutch collection for the parts and ask about a full BD build via the quote page if you're shopping a complete unit.

BD Steering Box (for the Cummins crowd)

Anyone who has owned a lifted Ram Cummins knows about death wobble and the famously sloppy factory steering. BD's heavy-duty steering box (and matching steering stabilizer) is the fix — tighter response, less play, more controlled feel. It's one of those parts where the first drive after installation feels like you just got a different truck.

BD Performance Turbos

BD doesn't just fix things — they build performance turbos too. The Iron Horn and Screamer series are stock-replacement and stage-2 turbos for Cummins, Power Stroke, and Duramax applications that step beyond the factory unit without going to a built-truck setup. Read the broader story on Cummins turbo upgrades in our Fleece Cheetah guide; BD is the natural alternative on platforms or applications where the Cheetah isn't the right fit.

BD Cooling System Parts

High-flow water pumps, upgraded fan clutches, performance thermostats — the unsung heroes of any tow rig or worked truck. The factory cooling system on most diesels is "adequate." BD's upgrades make it "actually correct." Browse the cooling system selection for what's available for your platform.

BD Towing & Engine Brake Hardware

Exhaust brakes, manifold-mounted brake systems, transmission cooler kits, and other towing-focused hardware. If you tow heavy, BD's exhaust brake offerings are a real consideration alongside Banks's.

The story BD tells better than anyone: durability

Most of the diesel aftermarket sells parts that make the truck faster. BD sells parts that make the truck last. Those aren't always the same thing — and the durability story is the one that doesn't get told loudly enough.

Think of the things that go wrong on a stock diesel as it ages:

• Exhaust manifolds crack and leak.
• Head bolts stretch and lift heads under boost.
• Transmissions slip, then burn, then fail.
• Steering boxes wear out, get sloppy, then dangerous.
• Cooling systems undersize themselves on long pulls.

BD makes the parts that address every single one of those failure modes. They're not chasing the "+100 HP" claim — they're chasing "this truck still runs in twenty years." For most owners, the second claim is the one that matters.

BD platform by platform

Ram 5.9 & 6.7 Cummins

BD's deepest catalog. Cracked-manifold replacement is the #1 reason owners pick BD; the 68RFE transmission options are the #2 reason. Pair with the rest of the Cummins parts selection and our 6.7 Cummins first 5 upgrades roadmap.

Ford 6.0 / 6.4 / 6.7 Power Stroke

The 6.0 PSD is where BD's head stud and manifold offerings shine. If you're keeping a 6.0 alive — which is one of the noblest causes in diesel — BD belongs in your shopping cart. The 6.7 Power Stroke gets BD's exhaust manifold and 6R140 transmission attention. Browse Power Stroke parts.

GM LB7 / LLY / LBZ / LMM / LML / L5P Duramax

The Allison transmission angle is where BD's Duramax catalog earns its place. Valve bodies, torque converters, billet flexplates, and complete built Allisons — BD covers it. Browse Duramax parts.

The cracked-manifold problem (and how BD solves it)

If you only buy one BD part in your entire life as a diesel owner, this is the one. The stock exhaust manifolds on 5.9/6.7 Cummins, 6.0/6.4 Power Stroke, and several other platforms crack — usually around the studs, usually after a few years of heat cycling, usually right where it's a pain to fix.

Symptoms of a cracked manifold:

• Tick-tick-tick from the top end, especially on cold start
• Visible discoloration / soot at the manifold-to-head joint
• Loss of low-end boost response
• The smell of exhaust under the hood
• EGT readings that don't match what they used to

BD's manifolds are engineered to not crack. They're cast-iron, properly tuned, machined to spec, and supplied with quality hardware. Install one once and you're done with the manifold conversation forever.

The labor to install isn't trivial — you're pulling the turbo and the heat shields to get at the manifold — but it's a job most experienced DIYers can handle in a weekend, and a job our techs do constantly. Get a quote if you'd rather just have it handled.

Why head studs matter (and why you should care)

The factory torque-to-yield bolts holding your cylinder heads to the block were designed to clamp the heads down at factory power levels. The moment you add boost, add fuel, or work the truck hard, those bolts can stretch. Stretched bolts = poor head-to-block sealing = head gasket failure. On a 6.0 Power Stroke specifically, this is the failure mode that turns the truck into a project.

BD head studs (and the ARP studs BD sells) replace those TTY bolts with hardened, machined-correctly studs that clamp the heads to spec and stay clamped. The job is involved (you're pulling the heads), but doing it once at the right time is the difference between a 6.0 PSD that lives forever and one that comes apart at the worst possible moment.

Stacking BD with the rest of your build

BD parts are durability anchors that go well with everything else in your build. The high-value pairings:

• FASS lift pump for clean fuel — see our FASS guide.
• S&S CP4 protection on any 2011+ CP4-equipped truck — see the CP4 disaster prevention guide.
• Fleece Cheetah turbo for Cummins air-side — see the Cheetah guide.
• S&B cold air intake for the air side — see the S&B guide.
• Banks tuning and monitoring for the cockpit side — see our Banks Power guide.
• Hamilton flat-tappet conversion on 2019+ Cummins — see the Hamilton guide.

BD's strength is bolting on parts that other companies' parts depend on — clamping the heads, fixing the manifolds, building the transmission. They're the durability layer of any serious build.

What a BD-anchored build actually costs

Rough numbers on the headline BD pieces:

Most owners don't bolt on the entire BD catalog at once — you pick the parts that address your truck's specific weak points and build over time. The good news is that every BD purchase is a permanent fix, not a temporary band-aid.

Install: shop work, mostly

BD parts tend to be the kind of upgrades you do during scheduled engine or transmission work, not on a random Saturday morning:

• Exhaust manifold: half-day to full day with a lift; requires removing the turbo on most platforms.
• Head studs: serious engine work — pulling the heads. A full weekend with a lift, plus head-gasket work while you're in there.
• Built transmission: trans-out work; usually a shop visit.
• Valve body: doable in a driveway with a transmission jack, but tight.
• Steering box: Saturday morning DIY.

The good news: most BD installs are one-and-done. Get the install right the first time and you don't revisit it. Drop it off and our techs will handle it.

What to expect from a BD install (and what owners get wrong)

BD parts are reliability-grade hardware, but they're not magic. A few honest observations after years of installing them:

• Don't reuse the bolts. Manifold studs, head bolts, and transmission hardware are one-time-use parts on most modern diesels. BD typically includes the right hardware in their kits — use it.
• Torque to spec, in the right sequence. Especially on head studs. A torque wrench you trust and a clean reference sequence is half the install.
• Don't skip the gaskets. Manifold and turbo gaskets are cheap. Re-using them to save twenty bucks is exactly how you end up doing the job twice.
• Address the supporting cast. A built transmission behind a stock torque converter is a built transmission with a weak link. A BD manifold behind a stretched factory turbo flange is still going to leak. Round out the install.
• Trust the engineering. BD's torque specs and install procedures are right. Follow them. The Internet's "I always do it this way" is usually wrong.

Get those right and a BD install is the kind of work you do once and never revisit. Get them wrong and you'll wonder why the truck is still leaking. Our shop sees both outcomes; the difference is always in the install discipline, not the parts.

Frequently asked questions

Why do BD exhaust manifolds matter?

The factory exhaust manifolds on 5.9/6.7 Cummins, 6.0/6.4 Power Stroke, and several other diesels are known to crack — leading to exhaust leaks, performance loss, and a top-end tick. BD's manifolds are engineered to not crack and they flow better than the stock units to boot.

Are BD head studs better than stock?

Significantly. The factory torque-to-yield bolts are a one-time-use, limited-clamp-load solution. BD head studs (and ARP studs) provide proper clamping force, hold up to boost, and are reusable.

What does BD do for the 68RFE?

BD's 68RFE upgrades address the valve body, the apply circuits, and the clutch packs that limit factory durability — turning a fragile factory unit into something that can take real power and tow weight without burning up.

Does BD make Allison transmission parts?

Yes. BD's Allison lineup includes valve bodies, billet flexplates, torque converters, and complete built units. The Allison is durable from the factory, but BD's upgrades extend its life under tuned and worked conditions.

Is the BD steering box a real upgrade for a Cummins?

Real and immediately noticeable. Sloppy steering, death wobble, and vague on-center feel on a lifted Cummins are exactly what the BD steering box addresses. First drive after installation feels like a different truck.

Can I install BD parts myself?

Some yes (steering box, valve body if you have a jack), some are weekend-with-a-friend jobs (exhaust manifold), some are shop work (built transmission, head studs). Comfortable wrenchers can handle most of it; our shop handles the rest.

Why BD is the durability play

Not every diesel build needs to chase horsepower. Most need to chase reliability — and BD is the brand that gives you the parts to do that without compromising what the truck is supposed to be. Cracked manifolds, weak head bolts, slipping transmissions, sloppy steering — these aren't horsepower problems, they're durability problems, and BD is the company that solves them.

Shop the full BD Diesel Performance collection at DNR Customs, browse the broader exhaust and transmission selections, and when you're ready to spec the right BD parts for your truck — and bundle the install with anything else the truck needs — request a quote. We'll get you set up right the first time, every time.