Diesel Ranger

[95XL]

I have an extra Isuzu 4BD2T laying around that I'm not going to be using. It is missing the turbo and intercooler, but other than that the guy I got it from says it'll run. And it has the Isuzu 5 spd still mated to it. Also, there is a guy that goes by the name of DieselTim over on the 4BT swaps board that can mate a Dodge NV4500 5spd to the bellhousing, so if you find one of those trannys with a transfercase still mated to it, it would be an easy 4wd swap. So, if anybody is interested, I'm out of Fulton, NY (13069). Pick-up only though, cause there's no way two guys can transfer this thing from one truck to another, much easier to use the tractor and just set it in a truck. So if you're interested drop me a line.....

 

[Beanmachine7000]

If I had a full size pickup I think a 4BT or 4BD1/2 would be a perfect swap for them... I think it's too much weight for the front of a Ranger though... Honestly, I'd love to have a fullsize Bronco and swap a 6BT into it, and D60's front a rear...

 

[Will]

The 4-cylinder is rough--especially when it's putting out good power. It's a lower frequency with more amplitude. Transmissions are rated differently with different numbers of cylinders because of this. I wouldn't want a 4-cylinder Cummins B. A 6 of course you can do whatever you want to without breaking it. but it isn't practicle. You want an engine that gets better efficiency than your gasser, and makes better power. You want to do what Bobby did and put a GM 6.5 in it. You could get better mileage than a 4-cylinder Ranger motor and 250hp and 450ft# of torque doing it. It's a V8 so it isn't as tall as the Cummins. It's lighter than the 6 and about the same as the 4--probably a little heavier. It will take a 700R4 and you can get a heavy-duty diesel converter for it. The 700R4 has a .70 overdrive gear so you can turn the motor slowly and get good mileage with it. It's a motor that is still currently built so there is no danger of parts becoming impossible to obtain. And the newest versions of this motor are capable of 300hp/600ft# in marine applications so if you win the lottery, you can upgrade. Actually, I think there is a 400hp version. And a marine engine is under much more stress than an automotive engie. Marine engines can't coast. They are under load all of the time. This is the smartest conversion for a diesel.

 

[bobbywalter]

VM Motori 2.8L 4 cylinder (160hp/295lb/ft)
Toyota 15B-FTE 4 cylinder (153hp/282lb/ft)
Isuzu 6DE1 V-6 (174hp/260lb/ft)

One of those I believe would be a perfect into an RBV... If you could find one (easily)...

BTW, how heavy is that 6.5? I know you can find those ridiculously cheap, and if it isn't way heavy, and fits in the engine bay I might pick one up and rebuild it for when my 4.0 eventually craps...

those are equal to a 3.3 or better


all excellent canidates....and unavailable to me


the 6.5 weighs less then a 4bt iirc...right at 720 pounds.


none of the powerstroke/6bt/6.6 d max engines are "too heavy"...just too much shit to do to put em together and "too heavy" to get traction in a 2wd.

i was working with some rigs today, and had to weigh up my ranger for tuning my suspension and at the cat scales i weighed in at 5860 pounds with a 1/2 tank of fuel...thats up from @ 5490 from the 302/aod combo. so basically the trans and engine are @ 370 pounds more....the tranny is 135/45ish of that.

3540# front / 2320# rear. add to that 400 plus for my bigger tires and 400 plus for my eventual tubebed/cage work and another 5-600 for trail gear and tools and you will have my trail weight...


@ 7200 pounds...

so i have to design carefully to get the loaded weight balanced...

yeah its a porky sumbitch these days

 

[Will]

What's a 5.0/AOD weigh?

A 5.9 Cummins is 950. The DT360 in my bus is 1350. I saw 880# for a 6.5 but I'd believe less. I've pulled 2 of them out and have them on stands. They bent the stands down and I had to jack them up and block them. I had a '71 460 on one of the stands and it didn't bend it.

 

[bobbywalter]

will has a good point on the 700 too..

i really been thinking of building one and running 35's with it to get my rpms down...it will net me a all mechanical setup too. but i plan to be able to run higher power levels later on which will exceed the 700's capacity so i am on the fence with it still.

the 700 will be great behind any 4 cyl though...its an excellent trans when properly assembled.

 

[bobbywalter]

my 6.5 alone was 718.xx without the ps pump and bracket. that friggen tranny is 2 plus


i dont remember the 5.0/aod numbers exactly, and i dont have access to my pc or written records. it was less then 700 pounds for em though


it just sux to know i am looking at 6500 trail weight as a minimum and likely 7500....thats what my 1 ton psd van weighs

 

[Will]

I can't argue if you weighed it because I didn't. But the 6.2 put much more load on my equipment than my 460 did. I have pictures of both engines on the same stand--the 6.2 is on the stand and has a 4x4 between the bottom leg and the pan to keep it level.

I weighed things I could pick up a couple of years ago when Jim tried to start a parts-weight page. I still have the weights, if anyone is interested.

TH400 with converter and fluid--204#
700R4 with converter and fluid--187#
NP205 w/fluid--147#
C5 with fluid and converter--124.5#
1350 manual case w/ fluid--61#

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I think the 6.5 is a good swap for someone who already has FW D60's and lots of other heavy duty junk already, but I was going more along the lines of a stock width 44 up front, and FF 8.8" and keeping the lift low and swapping in a small diesel (eventually) and probably only running 33" or so tires... I don't really use my Explorer as a trail rig it's my DD and I use it to camp with and load my gear up and take it to sites and stuff... So it's gonna be on the highway alot, so I'd like to be able to at least offset the crappy gas mileage that having bigger tires and a roof rack adds... I'm going to keep my eye out for one of those smaller 4 cylinder diesels and snatch one up if I can find one...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

A 302 with some decent gears would do about the same mileage wise and be a helluva lot eaiser.

later,
Dustin

 

[fastpakr]

A 302 with some decent gears would do about the same mileage wise and be a helluva lot eaiser.

later,
Dustin

You'd get 20-25mpg with a 302? That's hilarious.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Yeah, I don't see any gas powered engine pushing a 5,000+ lb, lifted truck and getting 25mpg... Still, even if it did... It's still not what I want, lol... My explorer is something I plan on keeping forever (or at least until it rots out and build a tube frame around it)... I plan on using it like a truck, and I REALLY want a diesel engine, so even if I have to wait a few years it's no biggie... I'll go through the trouble... I'm collecting parts for my SAS now, but I probably won't that till next year at the very earliest... It's going to be a slow process...

 

[bobbywalter]

the 6.2/6.5 is perfect for you then.



the truck you want to build is the truck detroit diesel originally designed the engine for

d44/10 bolt..1/2 ton..well wth an 8.8 your over axled in the back

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I guess I'm just too afraid of it being too nose heavy... Does it bolt up to GM V8 bellhousing pattern? Meaning I could put it in front of a 5-speed?

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah...its just basically a fat ass 350.


nose heavy it will be when your empty, but not something thats gonna hurt a sas 4x4 sploder. not a bit