Ridgerunnerras

I am going to do a diesel conversion in my 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. I want to use a 4bt or a 6bt. I am not sure which one to use. This is going to be a Daily driver so Massive power is not that important but would be nice. I am worried about the 4bt and the power it will produce. want to run the Dodge AT like what I have in my 96 Ram3500. The gearing in my GW is 2.72 and it has 235x75 r15 tires. I know that the 6bt is a tight fit but it will fit. I have seen one before.

I Would like to be able to Tow a boat or at least what the GW was capable of before.

Also is there a better AT that I should think about using? This will 4wd and I want to use as much Stock stuf and avoid alot of adapting things together.

patdaly

Cant help you with the proper Dodge tranny to use, but the 4BT is the way to go. The 6BT would have to be detuned to get any reasonable Jeep drivetrain stuff to live, and the 1K weight hanging over the front would not make for a good driver.

I have a stock rotary 105Hp 4BT in a 3/4 ton Chevy 4WD, and have no issues with power.

Ironstone

I would imagine you would get better fuel economy with the 4BT also and it's going to fit alot better and be easier to work on. Just my two cents. I'd like to do that conversion too.

Ridgerunnerras

I have been thinking more on this and I think the 4bt will be what I choose to do. I was thinking since some of the 4bt's had th400's behind them I could use that adapter and mount a properly built 700r4 which would give me a lower 1st and also a over drive.

What would the cheapest way to get 4bt? Where would I get one?

mikmaze

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CUMMI...spagenameZWDVW


I found one...... next?

JD730

I'm not sure about the 700R4 bolting up, but you could use the adaptors and trans from the back of the 6BTA out of a dodge and use something like a 47RH.

Dartmouth 12V

I agree that the 4bt is the way to go. The 6bt sounds like it will be a tight fit and is too heavy for that front end. Not to mention that the rest of your drivetrain will last longer and you will get better mileage. The 4bt's were used in frito lay trucks and you can often get the whole drivetrain out of one.

patdaly

Chevy, small Ford, and of course, Chrysler adapter plates are all available for the 4BT/6BT.

Personally, unless you have it custom built for the job, I wouldnt run a 700R4. I would probably use a 47RH.

Ridgerunnerras

What would be you need to do to have it Custom built for the Job .I have a 4l60e in my J10 and I wheel it hard and have no issues. What issues would the 4bt bring that hard 4wheelin would not?


Here is a 6bt in a Cherokee Chief
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=65018

patdaly

The 4BT is all done by 2300 RPM, and the Torque is almost all in way lower than that. To the best of my knowledge, they boost the low end line pressure and remove any Vacuum requirements.

So to make it live, you would have to figure out at what RPM you would have to bring full line pressure in. It can be done, but its going to take some experimentation.

Ironstone

Alot of delivery vans have 4bt's with turbo 400's mated to them, a 47rh would bolt right up ,I would think. I think the hp is around 80 not sure of the torque spec. I believe you can get them up to about 120 hp tweekin them. Even there you aren't going to hurt the 47rh. Plus you get get a stock one dirt cheap because no one wants one behind a 6bt. The engine is gonna cost ya though. I would stay away from 700r4, personally I think they are junk. I have 2 chevys sittin out back with bad 700r4 tranny's in both of them.

Ridgerunnerras

What is a 47RH is that what is in my 96 CTD? I do not know much abut the dodge Stuf

96_12V

The 4bt is a great engine, but it's not light either, remember that one of these will still weigh over 750lbs, likley even without a turbo. It's more than a Chevy 350. The 5.9L 6bt 12V with a P-pump weighs over 1200 lbs dry, which will really tax your suspension and compromise braking ability - to say it lightly.

There are newer 4bt with a smaller P-type pump on them. They could be the most modifyable, but they could be hard to come by. Good luck - sounds like a neat project!

wcbcruzer

4BT ftw! Should get good gas mileage too!

turbo-max

interesting thread, as i have an 1982 wagoneer with a 4.2L 6 that i turbocharged, but was thing of the 6bt swap, but after reading here, i just might not bother.