diesel swap

[RedneckRanger69]

The 4BT doesn't start with much power, but diesels are built with hidden potential. Diesel Power mag has an article on a 4BT in a Ranger making 700+ HP on fuel alone!!

Yea, ur right, Diesel engines do have hidden potential, if u wanted to add more horsepower and torque to ur engine, you can do it cheaper and easier than if you were trying to soup up a regular gas engine. (performance chips, turbo's, exhaust systems, etc.) Plus, for the chips, your diesel can way more out of it than a regular gas engine could. And alot of the other add ons like exhaust systems, turbo's, etc. being put on to a diesel engine will show u alot more horspower and torque gains than if you were putting them on a regular gas engine.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Mileage is a factor too, since this truck will be a daily driver once finished. I've not seen any gassers make 30MPG.

Ive never seen a 6.2 do that either.

How much money is sunk into that 6.2L bdab? Give me a good running 351 4bbl with a good cam, headers, and some light head work and that 6.2L will be cooked.

....and yes, a Creeper 4 can be shifted fast if you know how to shift one. Take somebody whos use to 5sp's and they wont be able to find the gears, put an old experinced hand behind one (like mine) and you'd be surpised. I can row my Duallys T18 faster then I can my Colorados 5sp.

later,
Dustin

 

[Mechanickid]

6.2 is a good choice for a ranger....... better than a 4bt.

True, the 6.2 is easy as cake to drop in its pretty much an ugly sbc 350. And we all know you can throw a sbc in anything.

 

[Frank The Tank]

There are 6bt Rangers running around........

I ran a 6bt in an 8k lb 4x4 ext cab dually..... with only 150gph fuel pump, 100 hp injectors, and an hx 35/40 hybrid turbo, an edge timing modual I averaged 26mpg. all those mods were under a grand.

Later I went to an Industrial Injection 66/71 turbo also spraying Snow Stage 2 75hp (for 600hp applications) water/meth, full gauge pod, 1/2in fuel lines, 200hp 7hole by .010 FTE fast track enterprise injectors, tst fuel stacked with edge, ats exhaust manifold, 4in straight pipe, BHAF intake, traction bars, south bend dual disk 3800 clutch, billet input, crio'd 3rd gear, head studs, o-ringed head (would hold the 65psi I hit regualarly) posi-trac.... a few other engine doo-dads, tons of chrome, stacks... system. and I averaged 18mpg city and highway
it was fun to drive, comfortable, and I laughed at hemi's, and gassers.

a 4bt, has a lot of potential, you can modify them in all the same ways.

btw my friend Jordan just broke 627hp 1117lb trq with his CR 6bt he's not even spraying or running twins yet.....

Frank

btw: don't trash talk diesels when you haven't been a part of that world, because it is a completely different ball game.

 

[nccatfan]

There are 6bt Rangers running around........

I ran a 6bt in an 8k lb 4x4 ext cab dually..... with only 150gph fuel pump, 100 hp injectors, and an hx 35/40 hybrid turbo, an edge timing modual I averaged 26mpg. all those mods were under a grand.

Later I went to an Industrial Injection 66/71 turbo also spraying Snow Stage 2 75hp (for 600hp applications) water/meth, full gauge pod, 1/2in fuel lines, 200hp 7hole by .010 FTE fast track enterprise injectors, tst fuel stacked with edge, ats exhaust manifold, 4in straight pipe, BHAF intake, traction bars, south bend dual disk 3800 clutch, billet input, crio'd 3rd gear, head studs, o-ringed head (would hold the 65psi I hit regualarly) posi-trac.... a few other engine doo-dads, tons of chrome, stacks... system. and I averaged 18mpg city and highway
it was fun to drive, comfortable, and I laughed at hemi's, and gassers.

a 4bt, has a lot of potential, you can modify them in all the same ways.

btw my friend Jordan just broke 627hp 1117lb trq with his CR 6bt he's not even spraying or running twins yet.....

Frank

btw: don't trash talk diesels when you haven't been a part of that world, because it is a completely different ball game.

A 6BT Ranger?! Now there's a heavy setup! And thanks for backing me up... there's something about diesels you gotta be a part of to understand it. Tho, with the right configuration, diesels can be very fast, that's not really what I'm going for... I'll jump in my Super-bird if I want that! I'm fully aware this is gonna be a frustrating, time-consuming, money-pit of a project but I will be extremely proud of it when it's done

 

[Frank The Tank]

A 6BT Ranger?! Now there's a heavy setup! And thanks for backing me up... there's something about diesels you gotta be a part of to understand it. Tho, with the right configuration, diesels can be very fast, that's not really what I'm going for... I'll jump in my Super-bird if I want that! I'm fully aware this is gonna be a frustrating, time-consuming, money-pit of a project but I will be extremely proud of it when it's done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BBq...502A0748&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=16 just a 4bt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzN5aO-mo_g&feature=fvw 6bt in a regular cab.........

Frank

 

[bobbywalter]

hmmm.


i cant believe the never ending amounts of bullshit that can pile up so quickly...pretty sure i will be gone another month or so and will rarely have time to play. and really i dont want too.


seems ledd lined it out as solid as it gets. you have to define use and go from there.

for a 2wd or stock suspension 4x4 the many readily available 4 whizzer diesels obviously are ideal. and the 4bt is definatly the undisputed heavyweight king for these platforms in my eyes if you want high performance and fuel economy.. and should be anyones 1st pick for that matter


so for a daily driver thats somewhat comfy its possible to easily do a stock 4bt, but a hopped up benz , or hilux engine and powertrain will be the most comfortable to use...once you start crankin up a 4bt its nvh starts getting out of hand for these platforms on the overall. in this view, a 351 is real nice.


then again, if cost is a factor, so are ones choices.




then theres custom suspension rbv's.

naturally if this is a factor the sky is the limit.

simply put, if it comes in a passenger car or up to a 1 ton passenger truck it can go in an rbv.

i know i like my 6.5. its no 351 in n/a form....hell a 4.0 would be better then many 6.2's, but with a turbo its right there and with excellent economy to boot. its not really anymore difficult for me to put a 6.5 in a ranger then a 351.

that should be read it dont cost shit and is easy to do a 6.5 in a sas 4x4.




if i were to do a gasser in my rig....say if for some reason the 6.5 falls out of favor, i would most likely pull a low mile van 6.0 from a gm van, emmissions intact, and have it all over a 351 for lower cost. hell if you have a late model rbv its the only logical choice unless your title hopping.


now for sure the diesel has setbacks for wheelin. its smelly and noisy, and requires alot of different techniques as opposed to a healthy smallblock in my personal experience. no way i would use one in a dedicated rbv trail rig unless gas is 10 dollars a gallon... but if its not a trailer queen and on the road often, say over 20 k a year... the diesel really shines...


a show truck will take more time and alot more money.


true costs will always vary as to goals.

i kept a 6.5 swap under 400 bux. thats the actual swap. i just used what i had available, and its not gonna win any show ribbons. its also not done, i need to permanantly mount the wiring and lines and hook up the proper shifter. due to further planned mods that will alter those affected routes i go without maing things pretty because i am lazy and dont care to do that routing two or more times. but ya never know......

400 bux is cheap, but not impressive as i can generally swap a stockish 351 for under 400 bux too. just depends on needs wants and money able to invest.



one thing to remember, this is a modification site....and this particular section of the site is for those who want to venture off of the front porch, in most case way the fawk off and over the hill out of site.....and so far it seems every topic is full of shouting come backs by those that cant summon the balls to venture thier own way and DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT...OR ANYTHING AT ALL!!!!.....


so, please dont turn around .....and keep up your search to do something unique that actually appeals to YOU no matter what the rest of us think...theres usually at least a tiny bit of help with enough patience.


good luck

 

[Will]

Ive never seen a 6.2 do that either.

How much money is sunk into that 6.2L bdab? Give me a good running 351 4bbl with a good cam, headers, and some light head work and that 6.2L will be cooked.

....and yes, a Creeper 4 can be shifted fast if you know how to shift one. Take somebody whos use to 5sp's and they wont be able to find the gears, put an old experinced hand behind one (like mine) and you'd be surpised. I can row my Duallys T18 faster then I can my Colorados 5sp.

later,
Dustin

It's the gear spacing from first to second not the shifting.

As to the 6.2 vs 351, I've already tested that first hand with a '96 5.8 against my 6.2 turbo and the 315ft# 5.8 came up lacking big time. Same trailer and same load on the trailer. And the 6.2 made 16mpg to the 5.8s 7mpg. Were talking 400miles each way, not a 10 mile trip to the scrap yard. I'm driving a steady 70mph just rolling along and the 5.8 is hurtling down the hills at 85 past me and then on the next up, the 6.2 turbo is gliding back past. Sambo was angry, but it wasn't my fault--he just had the worng tool for the job. After that, Sambo bought a F350 Powerstroke so he could keep up. I borrowed it a couple times, and we did a Wellsville trip in it together. It was way plush, but it wasn't better at pulling 7,000# then my 6.2 and the 6.2 was quicker getting into traffic because the stock Ford computer doesn't give you your fuel unless the cruise control is on. This was a 6-speed truck with the 525ft# 7.3.

I have to give 6.2 bashers a big whatever. I'm usually making trips out of state at least once a month, sometime more often. I don't have any problems. It's a 21 year old truck. It gets 21mpg empty at 60mph. My last one with the '88- bodystyle, a lockup converter and 3.42 gears got 26mpg on 70+mph trips. 30 is possible, particularly in a 1/2 ton and driving 60-65.

And, for the record, a 6.2 is not an ugly 350. The Olds 350 diesel was an ugly 403 Olds conversion that was a failure. The 6.2 was designed by Detroit Diesel (the parts book and some of the parts have the chasing arrows emblem) and though it is designed to bolt into where other GM engines go, is a completely different engine and not based off a gas motor at all. And it was not unsuccessful being still produced 28 years after with the parts from the new 6.5 bolting to the old 6.2, though certainly there have been improvements made. I believe the engines are still made in Dayton, Ohio though now by GEP for the military, marine and industrial markets. And you can buy one with low compression, lots of boost--even twin turbos and 400hp, 600ft#.

I'm not going to turn this into an argument, so I won't post anymore about it. But I can't leave unsupported negative things just sitting there when a 6.2 or 6.5 is such a good choice for a Ranger. My truck is a big fat pig and its pretty quick with a Banks 6.2. A Ranger would be flung along pretty good with 450ft# and 250hp, which is what the stock DB2 pump (same pump used in the 6.9/7.3) can deliver. All you need is a turbo to get enough air in there to burn the fuel instead of sending out the pipe as black smoke. It's not rocket science. Without a turbo the stock rating on my truck was 155hp and 285ft#. The light duty rating (same engine except an EGR and emissions tuning) was something like 140hp and 240ft#. These guys still go pretty cheap, and there are lots around and abundant parts. And everything that fits behind a 350 or 454 fits behind them--left-drop t-cases are easily available too.

 

[bobbywalter]

i lost the writeup i was working on at cd but there is still a short summation here at this site.

this should link to it for a general idea of the 6.5 swap

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35931

 

[jaymegriffiths]

Mileage is a factor too, since this truck will be a daily driver once finished. I've not seen any gassers make 30MPG. More power can be found after the install so I'm not so worried about that. Granted, 302 Rangers are cool (my dad built one... very fun!), There's only been 2 or 3 4BT conversions compared to dozens (hundreds?) of 5.0 conversions (kinda goes back to originality).

my dads friend 302 swapped a ranger and got 28 MPG highway driving like a grandma. on the other side, my friend pat has a 500 horse 750 ft# cummins gettin 29 highway 20 city. and it'll roast the SHAWT outta any 351 i've ever seen. thing rips!

There are 6bt Rangers running around........

I ran a 6bt in an 8k lb 4x4 ext cab dually..... with only 150gph fuel pump, 100 hp injectors, and an hx 35/40 hybrid turbo, an edge timing modual I averaged 26mpg. all those mods were under a grand.

Later I went to an Industrial Injection 66/71 turbo also spraying Snow Stage 2 75hp (for 600hp applications) water/meth, full gauge pod, 1/2in fuel lines, 200hp 7hole by .010 FTE fast track enterprise injectors, tst fuel stacked with edge, ats exhaust manifold, 4in straight pipe, BHAF intake, traction bars, south bend dual disk 3800 clutch, billet input, crio'd 3rd gear, head studs, o-ringed head (would hold the 65psi I hit regualarly) posi-trac.... a few other engine doo-dads, tons of chrome, stacks... system. and I averaged 18mpg city and highway
it was fun to drive, comfortable, and I laughed at hemi's, and gassers.

a 4bt, has a lot of potential, you can modify them in all the same ways.

btw my friend Jordan just broke 627hp 1117lb trq with his CR 6bt he's not even spraying or running twins yet.....

Frank

btw: don't trash talk diesels when you haven't been a part of that world, because it is a completely different ball game.

6bt's have certainly got a name! i think most of us have seen the 4bt 4x4 new style ranger that was featured in either diesel power petersons. maybe both. cant remember i read both. lol and they are sweet. diesel is superior in my opinion. more expensive but anyone who doesn't wanna throw milage out the window when building power diesel is the only way to go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BBq...502A0748&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=16 just a 4bt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzN5aO-mo_g&feature=fvw 6bt in a regular cab.........

Frank

theres a cool video of that 6bt reg cab in a burnout contest. hope he won lol

one thing to remember, this is a modification site....and this particular section of the site is for those who want to venture off of the front porch, in most case way the fawk off and over the hill out of site.....and so far it seems every topic is full of shouting come backs by those that cant summon the balls to venture thier own way and DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT...OR ANYTHING AT ALL!!!!.....


so, please dont turn around .....and keep up your search to do something unique that actually appeals to YOU no matter what the rest of us think...theres usually at least a tiny bit of help with enough patience.


good luck

ahh fricken men to that. anyone building anything remember yu'll never please everyone so you might as well make yourself happy!!!

 

[nccatfan]

Thanks guys, I just wanted tips on how to make it work (actually still waiting for those). Am I gonna have to weld up F150 spring housings and springs? Which eng. crossmember will take the weight and torque of the diesel (actually, stock 4BT torque is similar to a 4.0L)? Will the twin I-beam front end be ok? With stronger springs I figured they'd be ok. I watched a youtube vid of that late model with the 4BT... Sounds good, that sound is kinda odd coming from a Ranger tho.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Thanks guys, I just wanted tips on how to make it work (actually still waiting for those). Am I gonna have to weld up F150 spring housings and springs? Which eng. crossmember will take the weight and torque of the diesel (actually, stock 4BT torque is similar to a 4.0L)? Will the twin I-beam front end be ok? With stronger springs I figured they'd be ok. I watched a youtube vid of that late model with the 4BT... Sounds good, that sound is kinda odd coming from a Ranger tho.

SAS is pretty much the only way you'll be able to shoehorn a 4BT into a Ranger... It's a very tall engine... Look at how tall a 6BT equipped Ram is compared to a similar full size pickup... It needs alot of space...

 

[jaymegriffiths]

Yea, ur right, Diesel engines do have hidden potential, if u wanted to add more horsepower and torque to ur engine, you can do it cheaper and easier than if you were trying to soup up a regular gas engine. (performance chips, turbo's, exhaust systems, etc.) Plus, for the chips, your diesel can way more out of it than a regular gas engine could. And alot of the other add ons like exhaust systems, turbo's, etc. being put on to a diesel engine will show u alot more horspower and torque gains than if you were putting them on a regular gas engine.

Aren't the 4bt's mechanically injected? meaning no chip? plus good luck finding a chip for a 4bt anyways theres not much of a market for performace yard tractors... lol

 

[Frank The Tank]

There is a huge aftermarket world when you look in all the right places.
Marine engines come hotter than most, so some people swap out marine application injectors and intercoolers.
Tractors are detuned for longevity much like a tow haul rig will have less power/ lower rev's than a standard production model.
A mechanical pump can be timing advanced and the fuel plate slid, smoke screw turned. And make the power way cheaper than buying programmers.

Frank

 

[jaymegriffiths]

There is a huge aftermarket world when you look in all the right places.
Marine engines come hotter than most, so some people swap out marine application injectors and intercoolers.
Tractors are detuned for longevity much like a tow haul rig will have less power/ lower rev's than a standard production model.
A mechanical pump can be timing advanced and the fuel plate slid, smoke screw turned. And make the power way cheaper than buying programmers.

Frank

nonetheless 4bt's cant be "chipped". i would suggest a 2.3 perkins and turbo it. lol i dont know much about the 2.3 but one of my dads friends has one and gets about 55 mpgs. imagine a well outfitted one in a 4wd? could be torquey and fuel efficient!