cknautz

What wuld be better in a 1980 power wagon...6bt or 4bt?

Gots_a_sol

What are you going to be doing with the truck?

cknautz

probly just drive it, occasionally haul, goof around, and plow snow

Rick 12v CTD

4bt all the way. Unless you want all out power, a 4bt will do everything a 6bt will do but it will do it burning a fair bit less fuel.

cknautz

thanks for your input...i was thinking that the 4bt wuld be better

Trebor

Maybe start by comparing the initial cost and availability of each engine on your part of the planet. 4BT's are generally pricey, especially when found on the internet. Most poor running 4BT's cost as much as or more than a good running 6BT. A lot of the 4BT's develop head gasket issues around 200K miles in stock tuned condition. It's your choice.

dzl_damon

4bt absolutely. They do fetch a premium over a similar mileage/ injection pump 6bt however. I would swap one in my crew cab project without thinking twice if I had one. You can get a reliable 200+hp out of them EASY with gobs of torque for play.

98fargo

If I were doing the swap into a full-size, I would go 6bt all the way, I'm hooked on power though. For something smaller I see the point of a 4bt. I just think for the same amount of work for either one, I would go bigger everytime, just my thoughts though!

98fargo

1980 powerwagon is just a pickup though, basically just a first gen with different body lines etc, so lots of room for a 6bt. In a "real" powerwagon the 4th would absolutely save a bunch of cutting.

csx293

Plenty of room for the 6BT in an '80 Power Wagon without cutting the firewall up.

patdaly

For what you will be doing, I would locate a 4BT. Make sure you do a 5 speed conversion as well.

A 4BT has plenty of power unless you want to pull really heavy.

austinbbmopar

Im in the process of a 74 Power Wagon 6bt/518/205 swap, will be using a 93 core support for the AC/IC/Radiator and other than some modification the the hood latch thats the only sheetmetal work the whole project will require. The grills on these pre 81 trucks look as if they will cover an IC/AC condenser w/ little to no modification when using a 91-93 core support. Havent gotten that far yet but looks that way mocking it up.

For whatever its worth, a friend of mine had a 81 Chevy SWB w/ a 4bt and a getreg 4.56s on 38s truck ran good but after being around that truck i would choose the more powerful and smoother running 6bt. That pickup was nick named the "big white vibrator" because of that 4bt. Either route you choose will be awesome im sure but for me its gonna be a smooth(er) 5.9
Heres that truck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmFUfjhdkYk