Some 4bt questions

Yay!Gurrr

Yay!Gurrr

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There seems to be a wide range of prices on 4bts ? Is there a reason ?

What are the good version to look at ?

Yes ive been reading the 4bt swap site.. but damn its hard to sift thought fact vs someones opinion.

Just curious as to if a 4bt would be a good swap in a NON towing DD type 1/2 ton pick up truck, or if the cost of the swap would take to long to pay off.
 
Mike,
One thing that contributes to the price range is the variety of "4BT" there are probably 6 different engines with over 2000 different configs that could be called a 4bt. These things have seen uses (and continue to) in Boatss, Earth Moving Equip, Crushers, Vehicles, and more industrial uses that you can imagine (I can show you 1 app where a 4BT does nothing more than drive a hydraulic system for PS and Dump functions, bad ass)

So when you say 4BT, it would depend on what you are talking about. And HP ratings will vary as much as price.
 
The price of diesel fuel will never be below the price of gas again. Unless you get horrible gas mileage as it is, the swap will never pay itself off. That being said, it would be really cool though.
 
yager said:
So where do you find the bread truck motors?
Click to expand...

Cheapest source I have seen in auctions or direct from Pepsico. they use them for fritos, lays delivery truck.
They surplus off their trucks relatively low miles. A buddy got one a year or so back for $2100 we got 1700 for the aluminum body after we cut it up.
 
Cool swap, but very under powered, for a full size truck especially. The frito trucks are limited to around 60 mph with 4.10 gears. I went up to 3.55's in a jeep with 35's and it helped on the hiway, but a little sluggish taking off, so a o/d would definitly help. I just dont think I would use one again in any kind of swap. Getting ready to try a 6bt in a m-715.
 
I have been wanting to do this for my old man as a daily driver, put the 4bt it in a discovery, or his current suburban, my concern was the gearing as well, i know those bread trucks are geared low, if your turning 4k rpms at 60mph its kinda going to defeat the purpose of the swamp which for me was fuel mileage.

Id like to put a 6bt in everything i own but there so big, heavy, and expensive, it seems its only worth it in a truck your going to work.
 
Well this is just a math exercise at this point. But If the truck were geared to 3.42s (available for 9.5" 14b semi) And running a NV4500 (.75OD) that would put at 1750 rpm @65mph.. (1700-1800 listed as best RPM for best MPG)

BUT the questions are... will it pull a 5,000# truck at that RPM ?

Will the MPG cancel out the total cost of doing it ?
Right now I don't see it.. Research show anywhere form 20-30 mpg on DD with similar 1/2ton trucks. While cool and different, I'd need to see 30 to make this have a 3-4year pay off. (Factoring in the extra cost of diesel, now at +.40)

I'm still weighing out options.. Nothing is set in stone and I'm not in a hurry to spend money. That said I will spend 'some' money if its can bring a good long term solution. Just not seeing this as being one...
 
If you are worried about the "payback", dont do it period! I see no reason these days to swap to a diesel, and I love them, but the fuel prices are aggrevating. With that being said, I think the 4bt's make fuel, because they sure dont use much! LOL!
 
Mike I think that if you could do it and still have about the same power/fuel economy it would be beneficial if..... you wanted to make your own fuel or run grease.
 
Most people I see doing this swap arnt doing it to save fuel. Granted, I dont think people running 35's need to be worrying about fuel as it is...

If you want fuel milage get a metro. When I do this swap it will be because I think it is a sweet motor
 
Just finished up a swap iin a Jeep wrangler. Haven't really had it out on the road just yet to test the real numbers but it should do alright chucking a convertible brick through a headwind at 60 mph. And even with airplane gears (3.08) for now it will still burn the tires off. Also there is a guy here in town that gets about 35 mpg with a 4BT and a 4500 in a halfton chevy. He probably drives like granny but I've seen it.
 
I plan on putting a a 4bt in a 73 wag will be doing it for fuel reasons 12 mpg vers 20mpg or better . have the option of running wvo,biofuel plus the power of a sbc
 
i went from a 4bt to a 6.0 chevy in my buggy and there was a incredible difference. the 4bt is cool and with some work it can make some power but i wouldn't do it again
 
I was thinking about a 4bt in a Dakota for some time but with the cost of a Dakota and a 4bt then the swap I started looking a 2WD Ram CTD stock std cab, thinking keep it light, smallest of the CTD and use it as a DD but then the diesel cost went up so much, and a older used CTD is 12K +- and I can go get a new yota for 12k and use it as a DD and with a 4 banger get the cheeper gas and hit the 25mpg or more......
That kind of kills a 4bt or 6bt for a DD.....
 
You guys that think you're going to be getting 20+ mpg with a turned up mechanical cummins are dreaming. There are plenty of reasons for the swap, but don't kid yourself...you're going to be spending more on fuel.
 
braxton357 said:
You guys that think you're going to be getting 20+ mpg with a turned up mechanical cummins are dreaming. There are plenty of reasons for the swap, but don't kid yourself...you're going to be spending more on fuel.
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My 96 would get over 20+ all the time, my 03 will hit 20 and sometimes more going out west got 23-24 if I remember...
That was the flat land on cruse for about 4-5 hrs at a time....
 
The power of a sbc? Oh man, are you going to be dissapointed!


you have to be a buzz kill !!!
 
MR. GADGET said:
I was thinking about a 4bt in a Dakota for some time but with the cost of a Dakota and a 4bt then the swap I started looking a 2WD Ram CTD stock std cab, thinking keep it light, smallest of the CTD and use it as a DD but then the diesel cost went up so much, and a older used CTD is 12K +- and I can go get a new yota for 12k and use it as a DD and with a 4 banger get the cheeper gas and hit the 25mpg or more......
That kind of kills a 4bt or 6bt for a DD.....
Click to expand...


yeah any more fuel wont pay for itself unless you go WVO...
 
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