The official 6bt conversion thread

[averagef250]

4BT update: Sorry for not getting pictures yet guys. Today I got some bad news. A good friend's been borrowing my '71 on and off while he does some major work on his truck and this morning he broke the 4BT. Not really his fault, but somehow something sharp put a hole in the oil pan and driving to work the 4BT ran low on oil and spun two rod bearings. He's got extra rods, cranks and bearings and he's going to fix it, so not a big deal, but the pictures are a ways out since the truck will be staying at his shop for awhile longer.

[mljjones67]

Dustin,
Sorry to hear about the 4bt. I was looking forward to the pics. But I guess it will work out. Thats a good friend when he fixes it for you!! I cant wait to find one for my bump. Good luck and cant wait for the pics. Maybe you can get some internal pics??????

[averagef250]

He is a real good guy. Not many I let borrow tools let alone a truck I've got about 300 hours into restoring. He's got a performance diesel shop and I've got an injector cleaning business and transmission rebuilding shop. We're always doing work for each other and sending work each other's way. He's swamped right now and I'm not sure I want him rushing through pulling the 4BT from the '71 (it's a pretty nice truck). I'm going to talk with him tomorrow about getting the truck back to my shop with a good crank and a couple rods and I'll do the work. If I can do it at my end there will be plenty of pictures.

[j41385]

If I were curious Dustin... and I am....Could I have you make me 6bt mounts? I think you know I am a Cummins fan already from our previous conversations, But I'd rather have a 6bt in my Engineless 71 F250 outfront. Moreover I could Pick them up.

[averagef250]

Diesel's accelerate just as quickly as gas engines HP for HP, you just have to gear them right. If you were drag racing with a 500 horse small block you'd run 4.56 gears and a powerglide...If it was with a 500 horse 5.9 cummins you'd be running 3.08 gears and an overdrive. Diesels are all torque. For that reason they're actually easier and funner to drive I think. I spent a lot of money on big blocks trying to get the best torque and economy for towing and daily driving and a diesel does it right out of the box.

Hey Jamie, I haven't put a 5.9 in a 2wd Ford. I'd be happy to build the mounts if I had the truck and engine. There are two dodge 5.9 mount styles... The early gen 1 style that was just a small rubber block with two studs sticking from it and the later which looked like big rubber donuts. Go with the donuts if you can. The 4BT's all use the early block mounts. You hate manuals don't you? I was thinking I'd pass on a deal for a '95 6BT and 2wd NV4500 combo for $2500 I just heard about up in Centralia, but I bet you want an auto right?

[spartman]

SO on average how much would a 4bt engine cost?

[averagef250]

I've been paying $2000 for good Ford 4BT's locally, but the guy's almost out of them at this time. I know where you can buy them for $1800 all day long, but they don't include the block adapter and they're about $600 to ship to my door. So $2400 plus a couple hundred for the block plate.

[j41385]

Diesel's accelerate just as quickly as gas engines HP for HP, you just have to gear them right. If you were drag racing with a 500 horse small block you'd run 4.56 gears and a powerglide...If it was with a 500 horse 5.9 cummins you'd be running 3.08 gears and an overdrive. Diesels are all torque. For that reason they're actually easier and funner to drive I think. I spent a lot of money on big blocks trying to get the best torque and economy for towing and daily driving and a diesel does it right out of the box.

Hey Jamie, I haven't put a 5.9 in a 2wd Ford. I'd be happy to build the mounts if I had the truck and engine. There are two dodge 5.9 mount styles... The early gen 1 style that was just a small rubber block with two studs sticking from it and the later which looked like big rubber donuts. Go with the donuts if you can. The 4BT's all use the early block mounts. You hate manuals don't you? I was thinking I'd pass on a deal for a '95 6BT and 2wd NV4500 combo for $2500 I just heard about up in Centralia, but I bet you want an auto right?

Ya, no sticks for me. The truck is set up for auto anyway so it's easier. Buy hey, I could sell or trade for an Allison or something.

[averagef250]

Yeah, I'm sure you could trade the NV4500 for an auto. I bought two cummins engines today and one comes with a dodge overdrive auto, but it's a 4x4 version. I picked up another 4BT to swap into a '94 F-250 4x4 in place of a 4.9 six for a customer and I bought a '97 180 horse 5.9/auto and t-case. Haven't picked up the 5.9 yet, but here's a couple pictures of the 4BT before it gets cleaned up. This one's pretty cool, it's got an exhaust manifold that angles the turbo a bit to allow more downpipe clearance with the firewall. That's a vacuum pump mounted on the head.

[xxxtina63]

I've been paying $2000 for good Ford 4BT's locally, but the guy's almost out of them at this time. I know where you can buy them for $1800 all day long, but they don't include the block adapter and they're about $600 to ship to my door. So $2400 plus a couple hundred for the block plate.

When you say Ford 4BT, do you mean a Cummins with the Ford adapters, or is there another type of 4BT?

[averagef250]

Yeah, that's what I mean, a 4BT that came from a Ford chassis so it has the right motor mounts, bellhousing, flywheel, thermostat housing and sensors. The engines are all the same, it's just the little extras that bolt onto them.

[mljjones67]

Dustin here is one I found locally take a look and tell me what you think.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=218&ad=1268144&cat=&lpid=1

[averagef250]

I'd say That's worth it! You can sell the chevy adapter on ebay for atleast $500 and buy the ford parts for less than that and big BONUS...Did you notive it already has the saginaw power steering pump on it? Sounds like he's flexible on price too. If you can get him down to $1500 or $1700 you're stealing it.

[mljjones67]

Well I will give him a call. Hope he needs cash bad!!!

[mljjones67]

Dustin here is a 6 cyl cummins for sale.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=218&ad=1211744&cat=&lpid=4