The official 6bt conversion thread

[mercman1953]

Guys just found this thread and wanted to throw my info into the mix. I worked in the 90's for a company called Powermark out of Lafayette, IN and we did diesel repowers for cummins. We had repower kits for anything on the road. 6b 4b and all the toys for ford, chevy, dodge you name it. We had a shop truck with a 6bta that had been turned up a bunch. It was a 89 f250 xcab 2wd. It had a c6 with a gearvindor under over drive. It had a ton of miles on it but had so much torque that it would pull stumps. The company went out of business in about 95 or 96. I will do a little reaserch to see if I can find anyone that is selling the same pieces and will pass the info along.

[averagef250]

The Ford 4BT's came with 4.02 first T-19's. Yes, the Ford 4BT's were designed to bolt in place of a 1980 and up 300 six chassis. The clutch is a 12" unit, nothing like the 11" that the six has.

[mljjones67]

Well I guess the guy sold it??? He wont call me back so I guess I will keep hunting!!!!

[mljjones67]

Dustin, What do you think of this one?
This one is in New Mexico still in the van. It is a e350. He only wants $1800.00 for it. He actually has two for sale. One is an 1982 the other an 1986

Mike

[mljjones67]

Do you think one would fit on my 16 ft car hauler???

[averagef250]

Shoot, I'd buy them both for that! Keep in mind the engines are newer than the trucks. They did not come with diesels factory. Originally they'd have been 300 six trucks and converted years after they were built. The aluminum bodies scrap for atleast $800 or guys are saying on the 4BT forums that there are individuals looking to buy just the grumman shells to fix them up.

The vans are pretty big and come in several different lengths. I'd ask for some measurements. Looks like a great deal there Mike!

[Mooosman]

Sorry if it's been posted before, but does anyone have any pictures of the conversion? I mean, the conversion in a bumpside?

Anyone?

Nick

[averagef250]

I will actually have some tomorrow. My '71's getting towed over tomorrow along with an extra 4BT to rob parts from so's I can fix it.

There aren't many bumpside cummins pics out there. Seams most ford swaps are into dentsides or EB's.

Mike, the front bumpers on those things are pretty stout. If it won't fit on your trailer how bout a tow bar? I've got one of those old universal ones that works like a champ as long as you don't care about the front bumper and it's not icy or slick out.

[mljjones67]

I didn't even think about the tow bar. My grandpa has a dolly I could use too. I told the guy i might buy both of them off him. I guess I could get most of the investment back if I sold one of them. And scrap the other one????

[averagef250]

If you could buy them both for $3000 I'm pretty sure you could make money on the deal within a month and get the engine for free. You'd have the spare engine, two T-19's, two dana 70's and $1600 in aluminum scrap to sell. Actually, factor in the fuel to tow them home and you're gonna be out some, but probably well worth it! Good luck!

[customcrewcab]

i sold my dana 70 for 500 to some 4wd guy.

[mljjones67]

The only down side right now is the 1164 (edit) mile round trip!!!

He is in Albuquerque, NM

[mljjones67]

Dustin
He says they have 300k +/- miles on them. What would it take to rebuild one??? He says they run so I might fly down drive them back????? We will see

[mljjones67]

Where is a good place to get a tow bar? what do they look like????

[averagef250]

I found mine in a barn on a friends property. It's pretty old and a lot better built than the things being sold on ebay right now. Here's an example of something similiar:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOW-BAR- ... 6505QQrdZ1

My towbar just has rubber pads and two chains with turnbuckles to tension it. It works very well as long as your not taking a bunch of corners and the rig you're towing has a decent front end alignment.