cummins in a 98 F150

[Furnace]

Hi:

Sorta been lurking for a while trying to decide weather I should put a 5. 9 into the truck or a 4BTA3. 9. If the 5. 9 would fit then that is the route I want to take. But I don't know if it will. Any help would be appreciated. I just semi-retired and like projects like this so it is going to be done. I just don't know which engine will fit. It is a 2wd and will stay that way. Wanna have a 5 spd too. Have spent 40 hours running around the web getting info and usually the swaps are for older trucks. Thanks



Paul



Growing old is inevitable-Growing up is optional

96 VW TDI

95 JD 755

 

[Copterdoc]

Sorry to break it to you but there is no way a f-150 suspension, brakes and frame will handle the weight of a cummins copterdoc

 

[Furnace]

The more I read and research the more I think that the 5. 9 is a bad idea. But the 3. 9? Still think it is too heavy? I am not a power hungry driver just want something a little different that I can drive everyday and would be neat to show off. With some frame strenghting and suspension work do you think it still is not feasable? Thanks for the imput

Paul

 

[RoadGoesOnForever]

I dont know why everyone on this site thinks the Cummins is so much heavier than oher motors. The 5. 9 weighs about 950 or so from all the sources Ive read. The 3. 9 weighs about 750. Im sure the motor in your Ford right now weighs at least 500 or so. So I think you guys need to stop discouaging people from doing these conversions based on the weight of the motor. Sure, lots of fabrication and time and money are factors, but not weight. The way I think about it putting a 4bt in there would be like me (220 lbs. ) sitting on your hood. Do you guys really think that his truck would not be able to handle me sitting on his hood for an extended period of time without his springs sagging and front end parts going bad. I mean think logically, 200-300 pounds isnt that hard to make up for with some tougher springs and maybe some stronger tires. In other words, go for it. I think a 4bt powered Ford would be pretty cool (for a Ford that is). And to all the guys on this site, with all due respect, please stop discouraging these people to do something they want to do for reasons that have no logic behind them. Sorry if I come off as being a jerk, but thats the way I feel.

 

[Copterdoc]

a 5. 9 weighs in at 880 lbs bare with no accs. that means no ac ,alt , water pump. nothing bolted to the engine and dry. the cummins dressed with all fluids and a transmission is pushing 1500 lbs. you are talking about 2 to 3 times the weight of the stock motor in a 98 f-150 depending on what came in it. I am not trying to talk anyone out of anything, just trying to give real world advise. look at the frame on a 98 f-150. look at the size of the brake rotors. It would not be safe to be put that on the street. You should watch how you hand out advise. I would not be pumping people up to build unsafe machines to put on the road. What do you think the 60-0 braking distance would be on that truck with a thousand more pounds in the nose than it was designed for?

copterdoc

 

[RoadGoesOnForever]

Im curious as to how you got this figure of 3 times as much weight on the front. Id like some real world numbers to back it up. The transmission (if he decided to use a NV4500 or Allison) would be no more than 250. That cant be more than 100-150 lbs more than the present transmission. If he used a 5. 9 ( which I dont think would be good due to too much power) it wouldnt weigh more than 400 or so lbs more which is pushing it. But if you read my post youd see that I thought he should use a 4bt motor which is maybe 200 lbs more than what hes got now. Sooo, were talking at most 500 lbs (a conservative number) which is not that hard to make up for. Hell, there is a guy on here that put a 8. 3 in an F350 I believe and I didnt see anyone discourage him. All I heard was how original and cool it was. I dont know, maybe Im just being stubborn or naive, but I really dont think the sheer weight is something that cant be overcome easily.

 

[Furnace]

I'm gonna get the weights of the 4cyl engine wet and compare it with the present setup. I am going to axle weigh the truck at the local scales and see what I am at. Then we will have a real world comparison of the weight difference. I really didn't think the 5. 9 would go in because of the weight but maybe someone out there had done it and had a system and a parts list of suspension or brake modifications. Putting bigger brakes on is not an issue I would worry about with the 4cyl because the diesel in the truck (say adding 500lbs) would still be under the payload capacity so the brakes will work as designed. What is the difference if you drive around empty with the diesel or full of tools with the gas engine? If the diesel doesn't exceed the front axle rating as measured by a scale it is a non issue. The centerline of the engine and actually fitting without using too much of the "blue flame wrench" is more the issue to me. While we are talking about weight does anybody know the weight of the 5spd nv4500 vs the 6spd trans?

Now a question for anybody that has heard the 4BTA3. 9 cummins running: does it sound like the 5. 9 or does it sound like a Massy Ferguson tractor? I would be running a straight pipe I think but that is a detail to be worked out later.

And for you who think I am blowing smoke outa my butt-if this engine will physically fit it will be done. I'd hate to have to buy a new superduty and plant the 5. 9 in it. Anybody need a powerjoke?

Thanks for any and all help guys

Paul

 

[Ray Torresdal]

sound

The 4BTA3. 9 sounds very smooth with a muffler. Not at all like most naturally aspirated 4 cylinder diesels. I can't speak to the straight pipe issue, but the 3020 JD we put the above in sounds nice. Ray

 

[redneckdr]

f-150 diesel

i know this isn't what you asked, butttt-i had heard that international???? was working on a v-6 "power stroke " with the thought that phord might offer it in the f-150. now, mind you . i'm not comparing a v-6 powerjoke to a cummins, even a 4t. just curious. fwiw some one else on the tdr website has put a 4bt into a95 or 96 dakota. it would seem that he faced some of the same issues you are talking about, and succeeded. i would certainly have some concerns about a 6 cylinder cummins in a f-150. i agree, sure would be way COOL, though.

 

[tntway]

yup--ford 4.5L V-6 diesel

this month's truck trend (nov/dec) on page 16 is a pic and a blurb about this. should hit the market in '02. gonna be 235 hp. and 400 lb-ft. should start in the '02 expedition and move to the '03 f-series and econolines. sooooo...

 

[Furnace]

v6 powerjoke

I don't care if Ford gave me a new F150 with the v6 diesel,it still is not a cummins diesel. I am an old Ford tech (17 years) and have seen all the Ford diesels. The old IDI were okay just gutless. The 94 IDI turbos were a joke, 95 powerstrokes ate injector o rings like crazy,the list goes on. I also thought the 4BTA 3. 9 was a turbo direct injection engine that can be dialed up in HP and torque. Uses same pump as the 5. 9. Am I not correct? And I think they are shooting themselves in the foot putting that diesel in an Expedition. People who buy them don't give a sh*t about fuel economy so why will they want a noisy diesel?



Paul

 

[tntway]

just tryin to confirm...

what redneckdr heard.

 

[WOWZY]

If you go with the 3. 9 Cummins don't worry about power, you can up the numbers to 245hp/ 550lbft easily. It was done to a '67 Wagoneer last year, the owner had put a 3. 9 in it and Bombed it to those numbers.