I know this question has been asked to death, but I am posting this under the 2nd gen dodge catergory, (hopefully a more correct catergory) I want to know about doing this to dodges.

I know it is possible to cram it into a jeep, and a landcruiser, I have even seen one packed into a volkswagen at the racetrack. I dont care about that, I want to know about putting one into a dodge.

I specifically want to know if anyone has put a cummins 4bt into a dodge truck?

I have a 1999 Dodge 4X4 with a high mileage V-10 when it goes, I am considering the 4bt transplant. As far as I understand, the 4bt is the same length as the current V-10 and weighs slightly less. This should simplify trying to cram it in without the shoehorn since all the lines for transmission coolers, and radiators, can all stay in the same place. The 4bt (please correct me if I am wrong) has the same bolt pattern as the 6bt in the CTD trucks. This bolt pattern is also the same as the V-10 since they use the same transmissions, the 47RE (electric) and 47RH (hydraulic) (later replaced by the 48). The torque difference is negligable, V-10=450 ftlb and 4bt=400 the horsepower is a little larger of a difference, V-10=350hp 4bt=~130 but if the fuel economy improves, I dont mind.

Will the fuel economy increase? I currently average 13 freeway and 8 city.

has anyone done this to a dodge? If so, please send me details on how it all worked out. I am very interested

Thanks

 

man, if you're going to spend the time/effort/money, just swap a 6bt in... it'll probably cost less and you'll like it a lot more

 

I would do it. Actually I want to do it too.
Everyone says the same thing Forrest Nearing said about using the 6bt instead. I would like to do it for a mileage vehicle so I wouldn't have to drive a car as a second vehicle.
I would think that your mileage would have to go up. There are guys with the transplant with super low gears and big tires that put down decent mileage numbers.
I have never found a 2nd gen with a 4bt yet.

 

Where are you planing to get your 4bt from? Are you going new or a used and rebuild it?

 

Personally, I think it would be a neat project, into a lightened 1500, street rod, type truck. Man, twin turbo's, etc.
BUT, into a 2500/3500 daily driver, would be a bust IMO. Small motor into a heavy truck means the small motor works 3 times as hard to do the same work. That means low mpg's, and accelerated wear. Ever drive one of the delivery trucks with the 4bt? Can you say "slower than a Farmall"?
I agree with the "use the 6bt" crowd, all the parts, linkages, and plumbing has already been done. You'll be much happier with the end result.

 

my cousin has/had one, twas a half ton with flat bed.

i havent seen it lately, much less talked with him, but last time i heard that straight pipe going down the road, i really think, he now put a 6bt in it,

or does a 4bt sound just like the 6bt?

i should investigate!

 

I think that just for a daily driver with no towing, well no large towing or hauling it would be fine. Although I can't really see it getting much better than a nicely tuned 6bt in that heavy of a truck. I'm sure it would consistently get 20+ mpg in a lighter say 1/2ton truck. But we'll never know for sure untill you get one put in there!!

 

The 4BT should get better mileage, at the expense of some power.. if better mileage is your goal, then the 4BT would be a good choice- it will shake more at idle than a 6, tho...

I've heard reports of high-20's mileage in a Jeep- should be able to get 25mpg out of a standard cab truck... as the truck gets heavier, any advantage over the 6BT will diminish (theoretically)..

but these engines have their lowest BSFC with a heavier load on it... and a 4BT will be at a higher load during cruise than a 6BT...

I want to put a 4BT in a suburban (K2500 with a 454... they're fairly cheap when fuel prices are high.. )

 

I like the idea of puttin one in a 2wd half ton.

With some work, I think it could be very fast.

 

There is a guy here in town that has a mid mid to late 70s Dodge 200 with a 4bt in it. He said his son is a diesel mechanic and he put it in. Claims to get mid 20s around town on 4.10 gears.
Yes it sounds much like a 6bt, alittle different, but not much. The guy happened to stop at our house to talk about jeeps and we asked what was in the truck since the body was too old to be a factory 6bt.

 

I don't see why it wouldn't work, it'd just take you finding all the right parts to get it up and running and that's about it. It's pretty much the same dang motor as the 6.....just only 4.....so it should be just fine.

And as far as I know they should bolt to the trannies the same, it should have the same bolt pattern.

I personally don't think it's a bad idea either.......if all you wanted it for was some good mileage I'd say go for it!!


~Nick

 

so it has been done before... thats what I wanted to know.

The donor truck would probably be a delivery truck, or something similar, I have been doing the homework involved with packing one into the engine compartment, and 4bt is very appealing to me as for the gas mileage, less modifications too... I know the end speed would probably not suffer too much, but the acceleration would.

has anyone actually transplanted a 6bt into a V-10 chassis? My original reason for the 4BT was because less work to make it fit, the improved mileage is a bonus (weather it improves a little or alot) any improvement would make me happy. The the 4bt is the same length as the V-10 and weighs I think 150 pounds less.

My wife and I travel with the truck alot, mountains and desert, cold weather and hot. The quads fit nicely in the back. We do a fair amount of trail driving, and camping. (The truck is not my commute vehicle, but we still put a good amount of miles on it, and although we go through alot of fuel, most are definately NOT high speed. ) The original idea was to pull a travel trailer behind the truck, this is why I bought the V-10. but (big BUT here) my father has had a travel trailer for years and he lately has been having difficulty with many places not accepting the length... not sure why, 9-11 or paranoia? some people are strange.

Our idea then changed to a cabover camper, this is easier for us on the trails, and also to pull the motorcycles on a flat trailer behind. they are not heavy, just big. For the streets, just to drive like normal, I would imagine it would be a little slower on the accelleration, and the hills, but on the trails, I think the 4bt cruising along in lowrange 4x4 should be fine.

The empty (or loaded without trailer) gas mileage on the freeway averages 13 so it is not too horrible compared to the new ones with the V-8 hemi (14 freeway empty) but I know diesel can do better. It would be nice to a. not have to stop so often to fill up, and b. not support the big gas companies nearly so much, because it does get expensive. I am sure the environment would appreciate us not going through quite so many gallons too!

All your input is greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

My brother is in the process of gathering parts to put a 4BT in his 1996 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban. He has found a few good deals on some parts, but the little stuff is really adding up. You will be way ahead on time and money if you can find a donor vehicle. Granted, part of his problem is that he is converting from an auto to a NV4500. But, the adapters, aftercooler, assorted plumbing, and other stuff can add up. In fact we just back from a salvage yard trip today to get the bellhousing, tranny adapter, intercooler, starter, and intercooler piping. He already has the 4BT, he just needs to get the transmission and he will start mocking up mounts.

 

where are you located? the 4bt conversion si easier than a 6bt conversion because you are so far back from the radiator its not even funny making the swap a cake walk. i have done 1 4bt into a 1975 jeep cherokee and am thinking about it again, as well i have helped to all the r&r for two chevy conversions and one ford 1/2 ton, dont ask the guy even had the ***** to use his old AOD and ford starter just had an engine adpater plate made. =

Big things

Buy a Frito lay truck with the 4bt in it. ususally $1800-2300, rip the cummins out stuff a chevy 350 back in (originally the truck cam e with a 350) and sell it for $1400. prefferably a manual tranny truck. if you wan to go auto those are availabnle also but come with a th400 and that is a 3 spd auto. the reasoning for the manual tranny is they are less desirable as the 4spd is a chevy 4 spd, but is easy to chase down a 350 chevy and bolt it up and have every thing work so you can sell it. virtually everything off the motor is useless. if you plan on going OD tranny and then using ac ect. best bet is shop around hollar at a few of these diesel shops they will have the Dodge 89-02 waternecks, AC bracket and Alternator bracket as well as tensioneer and pulleys. if you can score the dodge engine adapter palte thats cool too as it makes starter, flywheel, and trannys stuff easy. also an inline pump 4bt is a needle in a hay stack, figure probably on a rotary pum p 4bt as your option as they were used from 80-94 and thats when most of these conversion van s were built. that said all parts for a 89-93 dodge will work.


decide how involved you wan to get then pm me i'll give you my phone number and the best info i can granted its been four years. but i'll try to help

 

ddestruel,

Did you notice any issues with engine vibration (over and above the 6BT) with the 4BT conversions you were involved in? Do the Frito Lay 4BTs have a vacuum pump/power steering pump assembly on them like the 6BT Dodge?