The 2026 SEMA Show opened with more than the typical buzz of chrome and horsepower — this year, a classic GMC pickup rolled in with a story of mechanical grit and a deadline that seemed almost impossible. Hot Shot’s Secret™ chose the first day of the show to reveal a project that had been finished just days earlier: a 1982 GMC C3500 High Sierra dually, stripped of its original gas big block and reborn with a 6.6-liter diesel Duramax, all within a single working week.
Morgan Evans in garage prior to the Swap
1982 GMC C3500 gas dually swapped with a 6.6L Duramax diesel
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1982 GMC C3500 gas dually swapped with a 6.6L Duramax diesel
I needed a truck that could tow across the country, and this fuel-hungry big block was not up to the job.”— Morgan Evans MT. GILEAD , OH, UNITED STATES, November 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — At booth #23943 in Central Hall, the unveiling took place at 10:00 a.m. PT, with Evans and Kyle Fischer, Hot Shot’s Secret Director of Field Marketing & Partnerships, walking attendees through the intense preparation that got the truck show-ready.
The swap itself was a marathon effort. From October 12-16, Evans and a small crew — including her fiancé Jason Kastner — worked out of her Florida garage to pull the truck’s original gasoline engine and transmission, then fit an LB7 6.6L Duramax diesel in its place. The truck arrived on Monday morning still running on its old setup; by Friday, it was driving out under diesel power, a transformation that would typically take weeks or months, compressed into five days of focused labor.
“I needed a truck that could tow across the country, and this fuel-hungry big block was not up to the job,” Evans said.
The project wasn’t a solo endeavor. Hot Shot’s Secret and Hot Rod Magazine were both on site to capture every step, with Hot Rod documenting the welding, fabrication, and fitment work in detail, while Hot Shot’s Secret filmed the entire five-day process. The scope of the swap was extensive: removing the original engine and transmission, fitting the Duramax with new powertrain mounts and a transmission crossmember, installing a complete fuel system, keeping the ZF6 six-speed manual shifter, and adding a hydraulic clutch — plus more unseen work that went late into the nights.
“We adapted an existing driveshaft to the new drivetrain and fabricated a custom exhaust on site,” Evans added. “By Friday, everything was wired and plumbed. We started the truck and took it for a drive. I could not have met this nearly impossible deadline without our partners who stepped up in every way. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this possible.”
Hot Shot’s Secret provided the lubricants and additives for the project, including Green Diamond™ PRO Engine Oil, Blue Diamond™ G56 6-speed Manual Transmission Fluid, Blue Diamond™ Gear Oil, and their Diesel Extreme® and Everyday Diesel Treatment (EDT®) fuel additives. The build also drew on major contributions from a roster of sponsors: S&S Diesel Motorsport supplied a Duramax SuperSport CP3 and SAC00 LB7 injectors; BD Diesel provided up pipes, exhaust manifolds, and a Screamer turbo; Precision Fabrication Plus handled the powertrain mounting kit, cooling system, and hydroboost braking; QA1 Suspension contributed a front coilover system and double-adjustable rear shocks; and AMD supplied a premium radiator support and dual headlamps.
Fischer, said, “Some people would have said it would be an impossible task to make this swap and have it ready for the SEMA Show in five days. Hearing the Duramax start for the first time was an incredible moment. By then, the crew, Morgan, and everyone involved felt personally invested. We were incredibly excited to be a part of this project and to bring it to the show.”
For more information about the swap visit here. To watch a video of the swap, visit Hot Shot’s Secret’s YouTube channel @HotShotsSecret. For more information about the company’s full line of high-performance lubricants, visit HotShotSecret.com or call 800.341.6516. Keep up with the latest Hot Shot’s Secret company and product news on Facebook and Instagram, or by following #hotshotsecret.
Why it matters: The five-day swap isn’t just a display of mechanical speed — it’s a proof point for how diesel conversions and specialty lubricants can extend the life and capability of classic trucks, giving owners a path to modern towing performance without buying new. For Hot Shot’s Secret, it also reinforces the brand’s role beyond additives, positioning it as a central player in the enthusiast build community.
Leslie Allen
Wildcat Communications
+1 615-429-7965
leslieallen.wildcat@gmail.com
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