Trying to find a 4BT Cummins

So I've decided that I want to swap a 4BT Cummins into something. Don't want to reveal what it is going into yet, but as far as I know it has never been done before.

The tricky part is finding the engine, so I'm wondering if any of you have experience with finding these engines.

I've found some on eBay, but am always a little leery of buying a used engine from eBay. Craigslist occasionally has some, but again used engine, kinda concerning. I guess if I found a place that could rebuild them, or found a rebuild kit and have someplace hone the cylinders, etc. that could work.

Also, since they are only about 100-130hp from the factory, I'd like to be able to push it to anywhere between 200-350hp. (more is always better right?) So any tips on that are appreciated, or tips on where to have them rebuilt.

This one looks like a decent deal, but the ad itself doesn't really say more than there's no holes in the block... (No turbo included it looks like, but that would probably get upgraded anyway.)

My close friend put a 4BT in a 1990 or so Dodge Ram Charger. He bought the engine wrapped in a former Frito-Lay delivery van. Turns out he almost got his money back in scrape value as it was an aluminum body, and scrap value of aluminum was very high at that time.

Maybe you can find something similar to this:

Van

Or this:

Other van

I am a salesman for Cohen Tuck Parts. Our inventory shows a 4BT currently in a van. I am close to you I Orrtanna. If you are interested, call me at 484-883-0228.

Lately i've been thinking about putting a 4bt into a 96 Ram 2500. It's gas now but since you could buy them with a 6bt, what i've seen so far makes it look like a fairly straightforward swap. The trick as i see it right now is finding out how to do it 'enough cheaper' than buying a normal 6bt donor truck to part out.

I will second the idea of buying the donor vehicle. Depending on what you're swapping it into, you can use the gas engine leftover to put in the donor and have a running/driving sellable vehicle.

Like if you get a Grumman step van and you're putting the 4BT into a chevy pickup, put the 350 into the Grumman and sell it.

Vigo wrote: Lately i've been thinking about putting a 4bt into a 96 Ram 2500. It's gas now but since you could buy them with a 6bt, what i've seen so far makes it look like a fairly straightforward swap. The trick as i see it right now is finding out how to do it 'enough cheaper' than buying a normal 6bt donor truck to part out.

I own a 97 2500 with the 12-vavle 6bt. Do the 6bt. I love it! Some upgrades and you got plenty enough to get you in trouble... ;) (See my speeding ticket thread... lol)

curtis73 wrote: I will second the idea of buying the donor vehicle. Depending on what you're swapping it into, you can use the gas engine leftover to put in the donor and have a running/driving sellable vehicle. Like if you get a Grumman step van and you're putting the 4BT into a chevy pickup, put the 350 into the Grumman and sell it.

Not totally opposed to this, though I doubt I'll find a bread truck with a 5-speed trans. Edit: apparently both CL links above are manual....

Also, a bread truck will take up a lot of space...

Gas engine that I'm pulling out will either get sold or used as a spare for another car I have with the same engine.

This pops up on Craigslist local to me fairly often. Not cheap though.

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/5897643984.html

with the old mechanical cummins engines making more power is easy, just add boost and fuel. if you look around online there are hundreds of how-to's out there. And any parts that will work on the 6bt work on the 4bt. So you can turn boost up with a manual boost controller or move up a turbo size. Fueling can be adjusted at the pump, may be worth upgrading injectors as well. Also you can get a higher rated governor spring to let you hit higher RPM but make sure if you go past ~3200 rpm you upgrade valve springs as well, doing valve springs is relatively easy as you can do it with the head still on, again directions can be found online

edizzle89 wrote: with the old mechanical cummins engines making more power is easy, just add boost and fuel. if you look around online there are hundreds of how-to's out there. And any parts that will work on the 6bt work on the 4bt. So you can turn boost up with a manual boost controller or move up a turbo size. Fueling can be adjusted at the pump, may be worth upgrading injectors as well. Also you can get a higher rated governor spring to let you hit higher RPM but make sure if you go past ~3200 rpm you upgrade valve springs as well, doing valve springs is relatively easy as you can do it with the head still on, again directions can be found online

Great tips, thanks!

I know it's not too hard. I will likely work with the guy who sold me my 6bt truck because he got it tuned up pretty nice.

Don49 wrote: I am a salesman for Cohen Tuck Parts. Our inventory shows a 4BT currently in a van. I am close to you I Orrtanna. If you are interested, call me at 484-883-0228.

I will give you a call sometime today.

Thoughts on rebuilding the used engine from wherever I end up getting one? Or just verify it runs, get it in and fitted, then worry about power and rebuilding?

ohh boy the Shaker..

AWSX1686 wrote: Thoughts on rebuilding the used engine from wherever I end up getting one? Or just verify it runs, get it in and fitted, then worry about power and rebuilding?

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. If it runs and doesn't sound like its going to explode just buy it and run it. The 4BT in commercial applications has a 300k mile re-ring/re-bearing interval, but 600k is not uncommon. I wouldn't hesitate to take a stocker with 200k and crank the fuel and boost.

They also came in generators and forklifts.

curtis73 wrote:

AWSX1686 wrote: Thoughts on rebuilding the used engine from wherever I end up getting one? Or just verify it runs, get it in and fitted, then worry about power and rebuilding?

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. If it runs and doesn't sound like its going to explode just buy it and run it. The 4BT in commercial applications has a 300k mile re-ring/re-bearing interval, but 600k is not uncommon. I wouldn't hesitate to take a stocker with 200k and crank the fuel and boost.

i agree, if it runs and doesn't show signs of needing rebuilt then i would say go ahead and run it

I own a 97 2500 with the 12-vavle 6bt. Do the 6bt. I love it! Some upgrades and you got plenty enough to get you in trouble... ;) (See my speeding ticket thread... lol)

Yeah, only thing is i'd be using a 1g donor ram if anything because cheap donors come up a lot more often than the 2g trucks. I don't know how much difficulty that will add, probably still less than a 4bt swap.

The thing drawing me to the 4bt is the swaps i have seen of 4bt into Rams are getting well over 20mpg with it, and that's attractive because i've thought of using this truck as a long-distance tow vehicle for off-road trips to other parts of Texas or into the neighboring states.

edizzle89 wrote:

curtis73 wrote:

AWSX1686 wrote: Thoughts on rebuilding the used engine from wherever I end up getting one? Or just verify it runs, get it in and fitted, then worry about power and rebuilding?

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. If it runs and doesn't sound like its going to explode just buy it and run it. The 4BT in commercial applications has a 300k mile re-ring/re-bearing interval, but 600k is not uncommon. I wouldn't hesitate to take a stocker with 200k and crank the fuel and boost.

i agree, if it runs and doesn't show signs of needing rebuilt then i would say go ahead and run it

Seems like a reasonable (and cost effective) plan! And gets it on the road faster!

Vigo wrote:

I own a 97 2500 with the 12-vavle 6bt. Do the 6bt. I love it! Some upgrades and you got plenty enough to get you in trouble... ;) (See my speeding ticket thread... lol)

Yeah, only thing is i'd be using a 1g donor ram if anything because cheap donors come up a lot more often than the 2g trucks. I don't know how much difficulty that will add, probably still less than a 4bt swap. The thing drawing me to the 4bt is the swaps i have seen of 4bt into Rams are getting well over 20mpg with it, and that's attractive because i've thought of using this truck as a long-distance tow vehicle for off-road trips to other parts of Texas or into the neighboring states.

Can't speak to the difference between 1g and 2g and the difficulty of that. I wouldn't think it would be too bad though. I highly recommend a manual transmission if you can find one!

As for the MPG, it's all in how you drive it. The guy I bought my 6bt from claims he got 26-27 highway if he took it easy, it's just hard to force yourself to take it easy haha. I think I got 18ish on my last fill-up, and that was with some fun involved. I haven't had it long enough to give a good answer, but I wouldn't worry about the MPG aspect too much.

It will shake the teeth out of your head. A four cylinder diesel is very unbalanced. I looked into one for a project I am in the middle of and the swaps that are completed seem to change hands quite quickly because they are a very industrial driving experience. I went with a mercedes 5 cylinder instead which is more refined, although with more limited power potential.

I occasionally want a bread van for a tow vehicle. What are they like to drive for 4 hours on the highway?

If you're thinking of the swap I think you are, it's been done.