When Craig and Steven Staff from Staff Bros. Garage pulled up to FuelTech HQ, they weren’t just bringing any old truck. Their 1936 Chevy Pickup had just undergone a serious rebuild, and they were eager to see what it could do. But before taking it to the track, they made the smart move—putting it on the FuelTech dyno to dial everything in.

Under the hood, this vintage machine packs a 292 cubic-inch inline-six, controlled by a FuelTech FT600 ECU that’s paired with a FTSPARK ignition system for rock-solid spark management. An EGT-8 CAN module keeps an eye on exhaust gas temps, helping the team fine-tune the setup. This isn’t just about making power—it’s about making the most out of every bit that’s available. 

Bringing a fresh build straight to the track can be a gamble. You don’t know how it will react under full load, and you don’t want to find out the hard way that something isn’t quite right. That’s why putting the truck on a dyno was the best move. It gives builders a controlled environment to push the limits, make adjustments, and ensure everything is running exactly as it should.

Right away, the six-into-one header on the inline-six sets this truck apart. You don’t see many of these done right, and the difference in sound alone was enough to turn heads. “The six-in-one properly done, you know, that sounds… oh, completely, completely,” said FuelTech tuner Luis de Leon.  Unlike a log-style manifold, this setup helps the engine breathe and gives it a distinct tone that makes it stand out.

One of the key adjustments that was made? Spark plug gap. The team discussed the importance of setting it just right. “The closer the gap, the easier it is to confirm that ignition will be right,” de Leon explained. That’s especially important when burning M1 methanol, where a misfire can mean lost power.

Then came boost control. Starting at just six PSI, the truck was already making solid numbers, but there was plenty more on the table. From there, they focused on wastegate placement and CO2 pressure tuning to smooth out boost response. By the end of the session, the Staff Bros. had their game plan. The FuelTech FT600 ECU was dialed in, the data was solid, and the 1936 Chevy Pickup was finally ready to hit the track—this time, with confidence.