iam thinking about doin a 4bt cummins swap into my 94 dakota and i was wonderin if anyone has done it
4bt
byrons94dakota
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iam thinking about doin a 4bt cummins swap into my 94 dakota and i was wonderin if anyone has done it
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It be both neat, fuel friendly and rediculously slow. Go for it!
Why would it be slow? I know diesels rev lower than gas engines (which, given the same tranny with the same ratio(s) would equal a lower top end speed), but they (diesels) put out a deal more torque (which should increase acceleration given the same tranny with the same ratio(s), right?)
Simple solution, which should be in the plans of a engine swap like that, is to upgrade the tranny...from 4spd to 5spd or so. Or is my logic wrong?
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Check out Gale Banks for a fast gen III truck...... project sidewinder...
200 mph dakota...
200 mph dakota...
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guy did it in a gen 3 not sure if it was a 4x4 or not it was much slower going from a v8 to the 4bt but it got like 26 mpg highway towing a sailboat with a 5spd so i'd say you could pull 30 out of it, its a diesel performance can be added
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FYI...... I think Gale banks truck got 21mpg towing a trailer to the salt flats and set a 200mph record.... It can be done but "how deep is your wallet"
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that was a 6 cyl cummins and it was very fast if you could build the suspension to handle the weight of the 1200 lb. 6BT it would be a huge step up from a v8 but the 4 bt is adequate power and awesome gas milage, it has around 300 lbs of torque i'm sure you could shove 4-500 lb ft tq. no prob from it if you wanted it to.
About how much would you say the 4BT weighs? What about the 3.9 V6?
And what would need to be done to the suspension to handle a 6BT? Does it matter if 2WD or 4WD?
I like the idea of changing out large gas motors for a diesel one. All you should need to get good driveability would be a set of gears.
IMO, all auto makers should switch to diesel for cars and trucks. Currently, diesel is the best and fastest solution to increase average fleet mileage.
IMO, all auto makers should switch to diesel for cars and trucks. Currently, diesel is the best and fastest solution to increase average fleet mileage.
We're headed that way, and it won't be long before many mainstream vehicles have diesels in them. The big problem with them right now is passing emissions. Cleaner diesels are coming out, and when they do they'll be smaller and more powerful.
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yep slow. Unless you're making your own performance parts you're pretty well screwed for aftermarket support. You'll be using a 4 speed from the donor bread truck (most likely) and your top speed will be @75 mph. To do the swap right you'll probobly be 5g's into it before it is up to the performance level your truck now has. If you're to do this at all go for the 6bt because you have factory dodge parts support (buy a wrecked ram with teh 5000.00), the cost will be cheaper initially and you'll exceed the gas performance from day one. Your miliage will be better....etc I could go on for days. The 4bt is a worthless lump.
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the problem is you will need some hevay duty sespension to handle a 6bt, and the guy in the gen 3 used a tranny plate and used his nv3500, it did just fine, its a cummins they probably make the adapter plate to bolt an nv3500 or 4500 up to it, since the 6bt and 4bt are very close relatives to eachother alot of the stuff swaps, its not worth the extra suspension work to handle another 6-700lbs on the front axle or front suspension. since your 2wd you can probably get custom sprints to handle the extra weight but then your spindles and such may not be strong enough. too much work, 4bt are reliable, adequate power and good milage, your power will be underwhelming. you can put pretty much any tranny behind you want because it doesn't have its trany bolt pattern cast into it instead it has adapter plates so you can use a gm tranny or a dodge tranny and just get the adapter plates. FYI parts are readily avialable and at fairly decent prices. In fact some stocker cummins seem to be pushing 375 lb ft. tq., as i read the cummins forums many people are very happy with the power out of the 4bt and usually don't want for more power, and the aftermarket is there becasue many of the parts swap from 4bt to 6bt
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The 4bt is not the best in the world, but by no means a piece of crap. Stock they are not anything special. But with a few bolt-on's you have a decent amount of power. A lot of items for the 6bt will work on the 4BT. As far as manual trans, all you need is an adapter place or bell housing. As for auto trans a lot of them had th350/400's behind them in the step-van's. The 4BT is a more versatile solution due to the fact that it WILL FIT in the engine compartment, and you don't have to fab the whole front end for it. Sure it doesn't have all the power of a 6BT, but for what it is worth, they get reasonable mileage and have power.
yup slow but great gas milage. but honestly you gave me a great idea for my lil 3.7 to turn into someday,lol. maybe go for the 6B i like the 5.9 cummings but i thought the dodge trucks had more power then 210 with a Turbo???
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