4bt cummins

[macibell111]

how hard is the swap from the 230 to the 4bt? might try it if my 230 gets tired,and are they hard to find as rocking horse poo.

[jimmy_stikx]

So, the conversion reads as straight forward, but finding one for cheap is nigh on impossible. I'm doing a 6.2 conversion on mine because I got a decent deal on Chevy 1 ton axles and drive line for about a grand more than just a turn key 4bt.

[macibell111]

after pricing out the 4bt engine I plan to stay with the 230 and put the money into other things the truck needs..thanks for the info

[ZGjethro]

I am sure there are a bunch of threads on this, but what work is entailed? I assume changing over to 12v. Will a regular electric fuel pump work or is a high pressure line and tank return needed. How hard is it to match up to the stock drivetrain? Motor mounts available?

[Master Yota]

The only reason to swap a 4bt under the hood is because you want one there. There is no practical or financial reason to do so. The 4bt has the same rpm band as the 230, so it'll still run out at 55mph unless you plan on a 5spd transmission swap, and regear the diffs to 4.88's. That alone just added about 4k to the cost of the swap above the cost of the 4bt itself.

Another option that may be easier to find if you're dead set on a diesel would be a 4cyl 3b from a Toyota FJ60 landcruiser wagon. It has an rpm band that will rev out about 1500 rpm higher than the Cummins, the H55 5spd trans and married split tcase will handle the weight of the M37 without issue, and the tcase has both front and rear outputs offset to one side, just like the NP200 tcase found in the M37. The other bonus is that the 3B engines are used the world over, so parts are easy to come by.

You could probably find a complete FJ60 wagon for 2k or less, and have every component you'd need to facilitate the swap.

[JimC]

I put a big block Chevy and SM465 transmission in mine and kept the stock transfer case and differentials. It will go faster than I want to drive it.

[Master Yota]

I put a big block Chevy and SM465 transmission in mine and kept the stock transfer case and differentials. It will go faster than I want to drive it.

Yes it will I had the same issues with my first M37, only it was a small block powered rig. Once the speedo needle goes past the first number in the odometer, things get a little hairy...

[JimC]

Mine has been up over 111 mph once, never again (back in my young and stupid days). Now that I'm old and stupid, I don't do that sort of thing anymore.

[ZGjethro]

Mine has been up over 111 mph once, never again (back in my young and stupid days). Now that I'm old and stupid, I don't do that sort of thing anymore.

That is almost 3x faster than my truck. I hit 45mph once

[Master Yota]

About a 100mph was good enough for me... The speed limiter on the F150 I was racing kicked in around 98mph, so I guess I won...