I know the 5. 9 is a great motor to swap into anything but is the 3. 9 in the same catagory? Can it make 300rwhp and 500rwtq? Will it rev like a modified 5. 9? Will a/c and ps and alternator bolt up no problem? I would like to use one in an older GM pick up used as a work truck. I always wanted a 5. 9 but maybe the 3. 9 will fit the bill.
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4bt questions
- Thread starter JoeyD
- Start Date
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Those are all easy questions... and the answer to all of them is: YES!
Picture a 4BT like a 6BT missing a few cylinders. They can be modified just like a 6BT and should hold up just dandy. There's a 250hp marine version of the 4BT with an inline pump... so I don't see 300hp as being any problem whatsoever. 95% of the bolt-on items will work just fine from a 6BT... and you should have plenty of room under the hood of a Chevy for a 4BT.
Matt
Picture a 4BT like a 6BT missing a few cylinders. They can be modified just like a 6BT and should hold up just dandy. There's a 250hp marine version of the 4BT with an inline pump... so I don't see 300hp as being any problem whatsoever. 95% of the bolt-on items will work just fine from a 6BT... and you should have plenty of room under the hood of a Chevy for a 4BT.
Matt
JoeyD said:
That's a good question... I know that 'JLeonard' here on the TDR has found a few of them...
It seems like most people end up buying them out of bread trucks... that way you end up with a lot of the accessories, etc.
Matt
There are several things to consider. As Holeshot said, most buy them out of old "bread trucks". Virtually all of those engines are the mechanical rotory pumped engines that are similer to the first gen 5. 9's. Bosch rotory pumps, 9mm injectors, etc. They are CPL858's, which are 105 hp and 300 ft lbs torque. The intercooled version of that engine is 120 hp and slightly more torque.
The 94 and up version has the P7100 inline pump and is 130 hp and 330 ft lbs torque. These engines are very hard to find as Cummins did not produce that engine very long as an "onroad" application. Cummins discontinued that engine for onroad use, choosing to develope the ISB 5. 9 to keep up with Fed emissions. The 4B with the P7100 could not meet those stds, and thus became an offroad use engine. (small dozers, trackloaders, etc) The offroad engine is not governed the same and does not work particularly well in onroad use where you are in and out of the throttle. Offroad vehicles generally run against the gov, and speed is controlled with a hydrostatic type transmission.
Just a couple years ago Cummins added the 4B to the ISB line, but those engines are rather costly, in the 9000 dollar range.
Just remember that the rotory pumped versions use the same injectors as the 1st Gen 5. 9's, and the P7100 pumped engines use the 7mm injectors from the 2nd Gen 5. 9's Also, the marine engine is not rated for extended periods of full throttle use like the onroad applications are.
The 94 and up version has the P7100 inline pump and is 130 hp and 330 ft lbs torque. These engines are very hard to find as Cummins did not produce that engine very long as an "onroad" application. Cummins discontinued that engine for onroad use, choosing to develope the ISB 5. 9 to keep up with Fed emissions. The 4B with the P7100 could not meet those stds, and thus became an offroad use engine. (small dozers, trackloaders, etc) The offroad engine is not governed the same and does not work particularly well in onroad use where you are in and out of the throttle. Offroad vehicles generally run against the gov, and speed is controlled with a hydrostatic type transmission.
Just a couple years ago Cummins added the 4B to the ISB line, but those engines are rather costly, in the 9000 dollar range.
Just remember that the rotory pumped versions use the same injectors as the 1st Gen 5. 9's, and the P7100 pumped engines use the 7mm injectors from the 2nd Gen 5. 9's Also, the marine engine is not rated for extended periods of full throttle use like the onroad applications are.
Searching for a 4BT
Hey all,
I've just joined as well but I do have some leads for tracking down a 4BT. I spent a couple months looking and it was quite a task until i figured out the right places to search. So here's some info for anyone looking for the elusive 4BT.
If you are interested in an engine from a bread truck you can call Frito lay. They sell of trucks routinely all over the US from their distribution facilities. The lead contact for a Lays truck is [* * deleted contact information at the personal request of the individual being named * *] directed me to trucks for sale in my region. The trucks go for +/- $2000 whole and have anywhere from 100k to 250k on them. These are the 105hp versions.
Although they are in the MD area I did come across several trucks at a yard. I don't know if they would ship you one or if you want something from this far but here's the info: 8-10 1987 Chevy P30 trucks with approx 150k to 200k on the engines. Used to be run by H&S Bakery out of Baltimore. CPL's 986, 857, 1260 some aftercooled. They all start and run well. They were asking $2500 for the front end including everything mechanical- engine and all accessories. Contact: R. L. Jackson 410-378-2481. Its run by two brothers Mark or Daryl.
Hope this helps,
Pat
* * *
At the request of the Lay's employee named in this post, I have deleted his name and contact telephone numbers. Sorry!
Robin
TDR Admin
Post edited: 12/27/04 - 2:50pm EST
Hey all,
I've just joined as well but I do have some leads for tracking down a 4BT. I spent a couple months looking and it was quite a task until i figured out the right places to search. So here's some info for anyone looking for the elusive 4BT.
If you are interested in an engine from a bread truck you can call Frito lay. They sell of trucks routinely all over the US from their distribution facilities. The lead contact for a Lays truck is [* * deleted contact information at the personal request of the individual being named * *] directed me to trucks for sale in my region. The trucks go for +/- $2000 whole and have anywhere from 100k to 250k on them. These are the 105hp versions.
Although they are in the MD area I did come across several trucks at a yard. I don't know if they would ship you one or if you want something from this far but here's the info: 8-10 1987 Chevy P30 trucks with approx 150k to 200k on the engines. Used to be run by H&S Bakery out of Baltimore. CPL's 986, 857, 1260 some aftercooled. They all start and run well. They were asking $2500 for the front end including everything mechanical- engine and all accessories. Contact: R. L. Jackson 410-378-2481. Its run by two brothers Mark or Daryl.
Hope this helps,
Pat
* * *
At the request of the Lay's employee named in this post, I have deleted his name and contact telephone numbers. Sorry!
Robin
TDR Admin
Post edited: 12/27/04 - 2:50pm EST
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Issue 128 – Digital Version
Digital Magazines
FREE!
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Renew
Subscribe
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Back Issues
Subscription Status
Address Change Form
Buyer's Guides
Ram Diagnostic Trouble Codes
The Perfect Collection
The Perfect Collection Vol. II
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Dodge/Cummins Historical Overview
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What Makes Us Tick?
Product Showcase
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