4bt or 6bt

[1996DANGERRANGER]

alright here is my question. . . with putting a 4bt or 6bt is there any body trimming i have to do? and what trans would be best?
the truck is going to be a daily driver, never tow anything and if built good will prolly drag and maybe even sled pull

i've tried to get the answers on the many forums on the topic but everyone is trying to prove the other person wrong. im putting a cummins in it. dont tell me not to!!!

thanks in advaced for any help on my subject

 

[FordMan016]

not to promote any other site but ....dieselbombers.com,destroked.com,4btswap.com

 

[modelageek]

not to promote any other site but ....dieselbombers.com,destroked.com,4btswap.com

+ 1 on fordmans suggestion
I did some research on this a while back. there is a lot of info out there about the swap. the 4bt and 6bt are in demand. I forget a lot of what i learned but my guess is the 4bt would work out good the 6bt are pretty heavy and longer. I know when the price of metal was high peeps where buying the bread trucks taking out the 4bt's and scrapin the aluminum.
ps. I just remember some more thoughts. I recall coming to the conclusion that swapping a cummins into the fors diesel was the most reasonable project. when you swap into a gas behicle there are a lot of considerations like possibly having to change fuel tanks etc..... I wonder if an 80's diesel ranger could take a 4bt?

 

[1996DANGERRANGER]

yea i got the idea for a 6bt cause there is a guy on youtube with a 6bt in a 2wd ranger. and even with a 4bt i think the axle is going to need to be replaced withan hd one and the brakes and fuel tank. and i was thinking that i could just buy an old rusty 12valve cummins for parts and use the motor and trans and transfer case from it.

 

[88gt]

wish i had some wisdom to offer but i think your project is going to be awesome! looking forward to seeing abuild threadmon this!

 

[1996DANGERRANGER]

im still workin out the details and buget but i think what im going to do is buy a ranger ext cab short bed 4x4 with a really good body and a blown motor or trans. im going to pull the motor and trans. put the 4bt in(it will be alot easier and lighter than a 6bt) and new trans and transfer case in. put a 6 inch lift. cut the frame to make it a ext cab long bed. then i might find the sterling 10.25 axle to make it a dually and when its running ill take my aftermarket radio and put it in the ranger and then sell my ranger. im lookin forward to gettin started. im gonna try to start as soon as summer starts.

 

[bobbywalter]

alright here is my question. . . with putting a 4bt or 6bt is there any body trimming i have to do? and what trans would be best?
the truck is going to be a daily driver, never tow anything and if built good will prolly drag and maybe even sled pull

i've tried to get the answers on the many forums on the topic but everyone is trying to prove the other person wrong. im putting a cummins in it. dont tell me not to!!!

thanks in advaced for any help on my subject

depends.....(and not the undergarment ) is the only short answer i got.....and thats not even an answer


what comprimises you are willing to make and your actual abilities to fab or bring together like minds and organize them to your goals is the big thing.

looks like 4x4 is on the agenda as well. depends is big just with that option.


you say 6 in lift kit. to me that implies oem axle setup.

but the sterling dually axle suggests your open to putting straight axles in it. if this is the case, and your stated usage goals a good d44 8 lug up front or even a 10 bolt would be really cost effective....with leaf springs it would be stupid easy to do a 4bt. ridiculously easy.

for example lets say you get a bread truck setup with a t 400....i would rob the axles and t case/driveshafts from a 2500 suburban or k truck along with most of its suspension componants and get a few extra sa tierods from the yard while i was there.....(i would build and setup a 700r4 myself because i know how to do that) then put the 4x4 400/4l80 stuff in the donor 400 from the bread truck and get it awn.


fuel system??? not a problem with a mechanical diesel. just mod your sending unit like you would for a carb and buy or modify your fuel opening for the diesel pump size. if someone is talkng like thats some sort of issue they probably cant change sparkplugs...(you can change sparkplugs right)



of course anti air/added volume-fuel pressure filter setups can complicate things when you step into hi performance and alternate fuels but thats crap you learn as you go.

when it comes down to it the 4bt is a easy as it gets if a guy wants actual power and economy in a 4x4.

 

[1996DANGERRANGER]

im goging to school for diesel mechanics and know cummins pretty well. and the dana 44 was an idea cause i wasn't sure ifmy stock axle would hold the weight but i found out it does. so the dana44 is out the door. but the sterling in the back is an option.the motor im still workin ouyt the details. but my whole plan is to make a ext cab long bed dually 4x4 cummins ranger.

 

[bobbywalter]

im goging to school for diesel mechanics and know cummins pretty well. and the dana 44 was an idea cause i wasn't sure ifmy stock axle would hold the weight but i found out it does. so the dana44 is out the door. but the sterling in the back is an option.the motor im still workin ouyt the details. but my whole plan is to make a ext cab long bed dually 4x4 cummins ranger.

well. you will want to go to 44 spindles or knuckles then unless 29-30 in tires and standard offset rims are to be used.

a d44 sas would be ideal for your goals. this is a place a ttb d35 isnt good unless minimally upgraded as described above if custom wheels and 32-33 or bigger tires are on the menu.

hell, the added weight of the frame mods/ long box/engine/trans ect will overwhelm the brakes and then heat and kill the poor d35 bearing setup.


btdt

 

[wahlstrom1]

The 4bt itself, let alone the extra driveline behind it will add close to 300lbs over the front axle. I had one, and most of the parts to do the swap but weight alone is the singular reason for me not swapping it as my truck already weighs ALOT more then a stock truck due to all my 'extra's. The power would be great, the mileage even better....if your up to the task.

 

[bobbywalter]

just the 4bt is fine weight wise. combine with aftermarket wheels and heavier tires is asking a bit from stock d35 bearings.


a sterling and the rest of the mods definatly will work it with the vehicle empty. its the one thing about the d35 that sux. maybe if the hub and rotor were seperate it wouldnt be so bad.

from experience heavy loading and 35 in tires steadily wasted bearings and rotors on my rig. its always had a v8 since 95....but usually reasonable tires for street use. 31-33ish once i went to 456 gears 35's were needed for long cruising. never ending cycle of self inflicting hell

 

[1996DANGERRANGER]

is there any heavy duty bearings i couold swap in??? i really dont wanna do te d44 anymore. and ill be usin the stock aluminum rims with 35s or 36s if i can find them.and the extened frame and all the rear end stuff willl be after the swap.

 

[wahlstrom1]

No D35 is going to handle a 4bt's weight/torque and 35's....even 33's are a stretch. Even just swapping 44 knuckles and not doing an SAS would be a vast improvement.

TECH LIBRARY D44 KNUCKLE SWAP

 

[1996DANGERRANGER]

so swapping the knuckles on the D35 axle would be good enough to handle 35's and the 4bt???

 

[wahlstrom1]

For a DD you should be able to make it last, but the torque the 4bt makes is gonna be hell on Ujoints up front. As long as you play nice, run the 760joints, full circle clips and jeep hubs (all info in tech library) you should be able to get it to hold together.