4bt in 2500 suburban

[PhillipsR]

i have a 95 2500 chevy suburban with a dead 6. 5 turbo diesel that we have owned since 97 it has always been slugish no power but got good mileage and was dependable all those years until the crankshaft broke. it is like a member of our family and my wife don't want another car, she wants her suburban back. i don't want to put a 6. 5 back in it,what i would like to know is if anybody has used a 4bt in a suburban before and if you think it would have enough power and what kind of mileage could you expect. the suburban would be used mostly on short trips to town and back on a daily bases,since i own a small business and my wife runs our errands for us. it would never be used in towing,we use our dodge 3500 for the hard work i'd appreciate all the help anybody could give on this

 

[stacerbob]

I'd think it might be a bit small for a 'burb. 6BT might do as good on mileage since it wouldn't have to "struggle" with the weight. IMO

 

[24VChev]

I would install a early 12V non intercooled it will pull great economy for you. If you have any questions please ask. I have done several Chevy Cummins swaps.



Malcolm

 

[stacerbob]

Fill out Signature

If you fill out you signature it will help others later without having to go into detail about the vehicle each time. Location also helps.

 

[autoworld]

he's right, use the 12valve... .

 

[DKarvwnaris]

I'd think it might be a bit small for a 'burb. 6BT might do as good on mileage since it wouldn't have to "struggle" with the weight. IMO

I've seen 4bt's power alot more than a suburban without any power issues. The 4bt's will not have any problem pushing a burb down the road at 80 mph with an overdrive and gearing.

I've personally seen friends with 4bt's in 3/4 pickup trucks getting MPG in the mid 20's. Interstate mileage was higher. The 4 cylinders do vibrate more at idle and in the lower end, but it is not teeth jarring or anything. A good set of isolator sytle motor mounts will reduce alot of it from transferring it into the cab. You won't get rid of all of it though without a balancer kit, which is not cheap.



I'm repowering my 1990 3/4 ton suburban this winter/spring as time allows with a 4bt and nv-4500 setup. I should have it done by 4th of July at the latest, it is a no pressure project, and only when I have nothing else to do. As soon as this ones done, I'm going to get back to my 4bt Jeep CJ project I have been putting off for 3 years now. Having a full diesel fleet will be nice, especially with hippie fuel catching on.

 

[PhillipsR]

thanks for the information, since i'm new here i need all the help i can get. the suburban is a 4x4 with high gears a 4080e transmission. the reason i was thinking of the 4bt was of what i'd been reading here on the covversion from a p-30 stepvan and most of the conversion parts being available from the van. i've located a van with a 4bt 400 automatic, i just wanted to make sure that it would work and what parts besides the van that i would need

 

[VicR]

Whats the bread van weigh compared to your suburban? If it would hold up to delivery use in a van, I'd think it would be fine in your suburban. Sounds like an interesting conversion.

 

[stacerbob]

Yeah I guess I was forgetting about all the Hostess Cupcake vans running around! With the balance kit, & 250+/-HP it probably would do fine. Stock it would be as good as the 6. 5!

 

[PhillipsR]

Whats the bread van weigh compared to your suburban? If it would hold up to delivery use in a van, I'd think it would be fine in your suburban. Sounds like an interesting conversion.

i don't know what the stepvan weighs but i do know that the suburban weighs 6300. i'm still trying to figure out which transmission to go with the suburbans 4l80e would be my pick but i'm still confused on how to get it to work without the computer,any sugjestions? thanks for the help. by the way i live in southern indiana usa.

 

[stacerbob]

Somebody makes a standalone computer to put the 4L80E in a street rod/old truck. can't remember who it is... . Call Summit or Jegs & ask tech service That would be a good choice, especially if you can fine tune the shifts with it.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

i don't know what the stepvan weighs but i do know that the suburban weighs 6300. i'm still trying to figure out which transmission to go with the suburbans 4l80e would be my pick but i'm still confused on how to get it to work without the computer,any sugjestions? thanks for the help. by the way i live in southern indiana usa.

You will be very dissapointed in the 4l80E behind a b series, even the 4bt's. It will not last, it was not designed for the low end torque any of the b series engines produce. You are best to pick an automatic that was designed to work the b series. A Turbo 400 out of a 4bt powered bread van is different from any Gas or GM diesel powered turbo 400. Internal parts are heavier as well as the base.

If you want to go with an autmatic, use a Dodge 46RE or 47RE that has been built up for a 5. 9, at least you have a warranty with the transmission builder and won't be fighting with them that it was not designed for what you're doing with it. (I'd go with the Diesel transmission builders advertised here like ATS etc. )

There are numerous threads on the longevity issues with the GM automatics behind the b series engines. Just read up on them most will tell you the same. Your surburban is heavy, but not much different in weight than a 2500 series ram with a cummins. My Dodge is over 7800 with the tool box in the back, which is a typical weight for even the auto equipped ram diesels.

The waste of money you'll spend trying to reconfigure the 4l80e to shift mechanically will be better spent on a Dodge automatic, but its your wallet, not mine.

Kenny at Autoworld has tried numerous GM autos in the past, NONE of the them held up, even with hot rodder rebuilds and aftermarket kits in them.