4BTA bell housing pattern & Why not Mercedes?

[Brian R]

What is the bell housing pattern for these 4BTA's? Is it the same as the 5. 9's? Are people using adapters to put these in these different vehicles or are there common trannys that will bolt up? is it legal to put one in a light duty truck or are they only certified for heavy duty use and/or offroad (tractors)?



Why not use a Mercedes 5 cyl turbo diesel for some of these conversions? They are very plentiful, have a long service life and put out 120 bhp stock from 3. 0 liters.

 

[bvanetten]

apples to oranges

Mercedes 3. 0 5cyl turbo diesels are 125 hp and 185 ft lbs. They are high rpm indirect injection diesels that are very reliable but not very bombable. Not comparable to the 3. 9 cummins, two totally different types of motors.



Bruce

 

[bvanetten]

OOPs

My reply is in a new thread.

 

[KatDiesel]

Re: OOPs

Originally posted by bvanetten

My reply is in a new thread.

Fixed!

 

[Brian R]

What, exactly, does bombable mean? I think I have gathered that it means increasing the output but does it refer only to diesels? or turbo diesels? What about that bell housing pattern?

 

[RGT]

Hi I think the front sump on the Mercedes makes it impractical in a lot of applications, I thought of putting one in a Dodge M-37, but could not get past this obstacle

 

[Brian R]

Yes, the front sump issue. I guess making a new pan and pickup tube are too difficult? If you look at my signature you will get an indication of what I am doing. The 2. 3 never came in a car mated to the 1. 9 Transaxle. I had to move the starter to the other side of the 2. 3 block which required some significant pan modification (cutting, welding, brazing up the leaks). Supposedly there were some 2. 3's with a front sump which would take the sump out of the way of the starter altogether.

I do not suppose there was a different pan set up for these? I have heard that the S class diesel engine pans were different than the pans in the non S class cars but I do not know if it is a rear sump. I think these pans were all aluminum, too. More difficult to weld, at least for me. I've been thinking about putting one of these Mercedes motors in an early 80's Nissan 4x4 truck but I've not looked into it too far. I think I might use the Mercedes 4 speed standard trans (very short), then a small drive shaft to an unmarried transfer case. That way no adapter plated would be needed at the bell housing. I hate those.

 

[RGT]

On the 240 and 300 Mercedes engines I believe the pump is partway down in that front sump, making reversal even more difficult.....

 

[Brian R]

I'll have to look into that a bit more. Would you happen to know if a Jeep CJ8 Mercedes conversion would be limited by this? What is an M-37?

 

[RGT]

M-37 is a Dodge powerwagon '50'sish military version

 

[Brian R]

Those are cool. How 'bout a Detroit 4-53? Someone in my area has one advertised. No price but I think it has been rebuilt and comes with a 4 spd or 5 spd.

 

[w-cummins]

Originally posted by Brian R

Those are cool. How 'bout a Detroit 4-53? Someone in my area has one advertised. No price but I think it has been rebuilt and comes with a 4 spd or 5 spd.

Rather heavy and loud ( rather large size too ) and a dirty 2 stroke, Never get it to pass smog test if your area requires one



William...

 

[Brian R]

They're not really that great on fuel mileage, either, are they?

 

[RGT]

Hey!, I just bought and am picking up a 453 Detroit today, don't know what I'm goin' a do with it yet, but it ran so good and was so cheap it will make a nice shop ornament... it is fully marinized, w/ gear... I used to work on some 4+6-71 and really love'em. But for my daily driver I am looking at a 4bt Cummins for practicality.

 

[w-cummins]

Originally posted by rtrudeau

Hey!, I just bought and am picking up a 453 Detroit today, don't know what I'm goin' a do with it yet, but it ran so good and was so cheap it will make a nice shop ornament... it is fully marinized, w/ gear... I used to work on some 4+6-71 and really love'em. But for my daily driver I am looking at a 4bt Cummins for practicality.

I was looking for the weight on one how much did it weigh? I estimated that they had to be over 1000lbs as the 4-72 were 1900lbs.

 

[RGT]

472(?) I think this 160 hp monster of a 4-53 weighs in at 1400, it seems as though it would be pretty large for a pickup truck, are 4-71's really 1900?