What do you think? Is the 4BT overrated or not?

One thing that you did not mention is that the fuel mileage is really good even in a full sized truck and it is small in size which makes it easy to work on.

4BT is underpowered and overpriced imo, id rather swap an OM606 because just as reliable and much more power.

Great video, al so true. The 4bt is great and does great mpg, but its popularity has made it irrationally expensive.

One thing people miss on the old diesels, there's no ecm, little to no electronics and full mechanical control. It's far easier to adapt those engines to any application than an ecm engine. There's also the difference in mechanics, old school loves being able to diagnose without a scan tool, were as newer mechanics don't know anything without the tool. I prefer old mechanical injection for It's simplicity, I don't want to spend thousands for all the electronic gadgets when it's overly complicating the situation.

I've never seen anyone buy a 4bt for 16k, maybe 1 to 2 k for a decent block and a few hundred more for a rebuild kit.

the best Engine Cummins ever built was a N14. hands down! and I am a diesel mechanic now for 30years ++++

My 4bt is out to go into another project but what started out as a get good fuel mileage project turned into one hell of a daily driver/toy (as most projects with good intentions do) The last dyno pull it made at an event was 525HP/936TQ with a little over 100lbs of boost with compounds. I love the little motors, but I will say it will shakes like a paint shaker! Besides all the trans parts I went through, I had several front covers crack, broken motor mounts, and the truck just was much looser after several years of driving. I have always told everyone afterwards that if a 6BT will fit do it... Love them 4Bs though!

They are very good little engines…but they’re so damn expensive now, I don’t believe it’s worth it. To give an example, people have been swapping 4BT’s and 6BT’s into Jeep’s for a long time. To swap a 6BT into a jeep, you have to stretch the engine bay by 4 or 5 inches I believe, which is obviously expensive and time consuming…a 4BT on the other hand fits great…but, because of how much the 4BT’s cost, I believe it winds up costing about the same to swap a 6BT in, and then you’ve got 6BT horsepower and torque. Basically, if it weren’t so damn expensive, every ‘what engine should I swap into my car?’ Conversation would go ‘what engine should I swap into ___’ ‘a 6BT.’ ‘It won’t fit’ ‘a 4BT.’ Left stock, they’re a bit gutless, but bombproof, and you can turn them up to the moon just like a 6BT if you want to.

Back in the days we bought bread delivery trucks from auctions for $3k and took the 4BTs out. Cut up the truck for scrap aluminum and got our $3k back 👍

I'm sure with the P pump you can get some decent power figures if you really wanted especially when throwing a larger turbo at it but these engines honestly don't really have a place outside utility and equipment applications. That being said, I have always wanted to throw one in a half ton truck just to see what I could do to it.

My family has diesel powered Ram pickups. Both 1500 & 2500. To bad that when common rail technology was introduced with the increased power. That a 4cyl diesel was not a factory option. If a medium duty ZF-8 speed had been used, besides the G56 transmission. The fuel economy would have been awesome. And the power would have been fine, since a mechanical injected 5.9 put out less power than the 3.0L Ecodiesel.

The 4bt and 6th were designed to be cheap, but due to popularity it has become more expensive than it’s worth

One more thing… the R2.8 crate for about the same price (or a little less) comes with a fuel pump, fuel filter, oil filter, vacuum pump, alternator and other accessories helpful for a swap. It’s essentially almost a drop in with the exception of dealing with motor mounts (and obviously engine bay and chassis clearances), especially if it were to be a daily driver. The R2.8 is also >200 lbs. *lighter* than a 4BT. That just something I felt was helpful to state. Take that how you will folks.

I have a 4bta in a piece of logging equipment , that thing is extremely reliable , starts 1/4 turn wether it’s zero or 90 out , good on fuel etc

Keep up the good work man. Good videos

You can get a 1.9L or 2.0L VW TDI engine weighs about half costs less then $1000 and you can just program the software to have more power then the 4BT.

We have one at work in a case skid steer for the last 5 years I usually start it up straight to full noise unload a truck with forks then turn it off full noise never ever had an issue with it and everyone else flogs it too, so in my opinion they are great?

Thanks for the video of a 4BT Cummins it's been a while

Ever since I’ve been into diesels and I don’t just mean diesels in automotive applications I’ve never understood the hype behind this engine. It’s a great little unit for what they used to cost maybe 20 years ago but for the weight and power I’d take a Deutz air cooled any day over a 4bt.

Fuck that I’ll run my 7.3 powerstroke

To get the rigidity and head seal with wet sleeves, would necessitate an engine roughly the size and weight of a 4.5l Deere.

I was in sales for Cummins when the B-Series engines were released and the 4-cylinder was a tough sell often because of not having an internal engine balancer and it was being sold against competition that did. It took some special mounting arrangements to keep it from shaking apart the chassis it was installed in. But once that was overcome it was a very reliable and durable engine. Within 10 years of it's release it dominated construction and industrial applications where it was appropriate and probably still does, I've been gone from Cummins for 20 years. The 6BT and TA was much easier to sell and they too dominated their markets within 10 years. Automotive applications grew out of a desire for something more fuel efficient than the gasoline engines in UPS and the like, delivery trucks and of course, the pickup truck market for much the same reason.. The other applications since I don't stay up with.

As a life long Jeep lover, RPMs and weight reduction are our friend. I would consider the 4BT a downgrade from the Jeep 4.0. The LS is probably making people tired of hearing about it but there is good reason. When you can't even spin your 42s fast enough to clean the tread out you may wish you had went for a gas motor.

most reliable engine in the world. Drive mine daily no issues at all plus with timing gears vs belt/chain it is basically a no maintenance engine (other than oil changes). I guess the 345 IH engine is similar but that is a gas hog and requires a carb or electronics to make it FI. Name another engine with no electronics (3 wire start) that only requires oil changes and can be run on road and make good power?

Is a miss conception that people think it cost so much to rebuild the 4BT cummins and to make power out of it they have 90% parts compatibility with the 6BT cummins so power can easily be made from the 4BT

Is this all true for the 3.3L naturally aspirated engine as well? Including the dowl pin issue? Thanks

I have the 4b Cummins(no turbo) in a 1990's Case 1840 skidloader. I'm really enjoying the ability to buy parts for it at local auto parts stores. I tell them I have a 1990 Dodge pickup, and most everything fits without an issue.

Running one in my 1942 Dodge - milage is crazy on the flats. The vehicle weight is 7000lbs dry and 4 tons loaded - it does top speed of 70 miles and hr at about 2400 RPM on 40 inch tires. Best milage is 29.8 running at 60mph on the free way. Downside is the darn thing is noisy, noisy, noisy and vibrates like heck. I would love to balance one and switch from the VE pump to a P pump. I run compound turbos and have the waste gate open at about 25lbs, the pump is untouched and the engine runs clean. Pulled the pan and at 60,000 miles there was not a spec of muck in the bottom of the block. Going up hills? She ain't fast, but it sure crawls nice in the bush. Fuel? You can run pretty much all sorts of stuff to get by and you can not do that with a lot of the new rigs.

what is the max rpm of the engine and its torque?

what would a better option be for a mechanically timed small footprint diesel engine be that makes more power?

In my experience with them they always ran, but made no power,got really pissy when the Temps went up or down but worked great as a pump engine.

I have a tdi that I was thinking about swapping into my jeep but I don’t really like the idea behind the timing belt on the diesels….. but damn for $16k I could damn near make my duramax 800hp.

I work in the off road field but I have seen 2 different 4bts send the ballance shaft out the block.

Used to replace ford 300 straight 6's with a retrofit 4bt in Hostess bread trucks.

Im thinking about buying a foodtruck and i think its a 2003 workhorse that has a 3.9 cummins would you recommend buying or staying away

How does it compare with deutz air cooled ones

how do they compare to the isuzu 4BD1T?

If 6BT is the standard Prius swap, then 4BT should be the economy option. Of course my owners manual tells me to knock out the smallest window to unlock the door in case of locking up the keys. Might want snoop around first

Can you do a video about the 4jj1?

I own an engine shop. And all engine fan boys do this. Cummins guys. LS guys. K24 guys. 2JZ guys. All of them. They pick and attain the engine that they oh so desire. Then they talk about those engines like they are the end all be all of the entire universe. Like the engine they love is the baddest shit ever created in the history of the world. And of course any car will instantly and magically be transformed to the best car imaginable if you do that kinda engine swap. What follows is a bunch of fairytales and folklore about their engine, like even with a stock bottom end and 250k miles out of a junkyard that engine will make a million "reliable" horsepower. And every race engine in the world is designed after that engine. And if you mention any of the short comings that engine might have it's just absolute blasphemy. Like you insulted their mother. They just absolutely can't believe you would say such things. Cummins guys definitely fit that bill.

Barra motors are expensive now too. I could get a factory turbo model good for up to around 800hp with no issue for 1500 usd, shipping included, same dude hit me with 2500 and 1000 for shipping as soon as adam lz built one

I have a 4bta 3.9 l and mine leaks oil from the front crank shaft seal and the timing cover . One question i do have is if a swap it for a 6bta 5.9l will i have to swap the clutch ,? Its my engine is on a 2005 vermeer bc 1800 chipper any good diesel techs in GA? Thanks for the video

So what do you suggest we use instead?

How about the Cummins isbe 5 4.5 litre 4 cilinder turbodiesel ?

Waht Diesel engin is good and easy to instal in Jeep Xj?

HP is not where it's at.

im actually looking into this and keeping it as a hybrid for a truck since I dont need all of that power since the e axles will do 900 hp. the 4bt would just need to make between 30kw and 100kw similar to what Edison motors is doing with the cat c3.6 but not 15k and looking at refurbished motors and as you mentioned crate new motors once I switch the truck to be a ev. using tesla salvage

Do a cummins R2.8 video!

What would be a better option?

Would love a video about the 4HK1 ❤

years ago i found an old Mazda 2.2l diesel that had like 295ftlbs of torque but i cant find it form searching anymore....

I was spanked by a 4bt at the drag strip rat rod kinda truck. He had the perfect combo of weight, power and traction and I just made tire smoke. The guy pretty much beat everyone.

I would love to have one built for my '89 K5, but the prices have gotten insane...

I would like to hear your opinion on what a different viable engine would be. Im not buying the notion that the R2.8 and 4bt are in the same league when it comes to pushing a 3/4 ton Suburban around. Those 4bt's pushed bread trucks around and were reliable. If you want cylinder liners, i think you need to look to something like isuzu

I bought a 6bt long block for 1500, it came with a hamilton warhead head, I'm currently rebuilding it. Is it expensive? sure compared to a 350 big block but its a diesel. Diesel is expensive period, detroit, fords idi, cummins, BUT they last and are reliable, (if you get the right engine), they last 5 times longer than gas. The after market support is HUGE too, I can get ANYTHING except my block aftermarket right downtothe kdp retainer plate. As far as engines go its damn near impossible to beat the 6bt and 4bt in reliability, power, and repair time.

Nothing sounds like the B series. That fast, tight chatter is ear candy for me.

You got the 6.2 ls thing right.

What motor could a person use instead of the 4bt.

Niw the real question is, what are the alternatives? I am looking at something that will fit into a 1965 International Scout.

The only issue i have with this video is it doesn't take into consideration people who are going to build their motor you can buy one a lot cheaper than it mentioned if you want to buy one more worn and totally rebuild and hotrod. The crate motor, well there goes the warranty. also the 4bt also has better market support that you can get part parts to hot rod your motor

The problem with the 2.8 is the updated emissions crap I mean don't get me wrong it can be pushed up 300hp with a mod of the ecu but not something I would use.

I built an entire honda crx suspension, engine, paint, built to 400hp rated with turbo. For less than 14k including the price of the car. So 16k for just a rebuilt engine is way to much.

Great video

I've always heard these great things about the 4bt now you got me thinking thanks for the education

A lot of people like dropping this engine is small pickups to get over 30+ mpg. A guy I know took out the duramax and did a swap in his mechanic truck for this reason.

Any 4 cylinder in-line engine, whether it's a gas or diesel are inherit to vibrations more so over a certain displacement size by design. Most are cross-plane cranks. Look at most of the modern or even older designed 4 cyl in-line engines the displacement is generally under 2.5L (150 CI)for that reason. When the ones over that displacement (2.5L or above, some smaller than 2.5L, depends on the maker) will engineer into those engines a balance shaft to counter act the vibrations caused by the design and most of the engines are capable of higher revving (5K or higher rpms which are mostly gas powered, some diesels). Being that 4BT is a 3.9L and a lower revving engine (redline similiar to a 6BT, 3K to 3.5K rpm , operating range around 1K to 2.5K rpm give or take.) Cummins probably for various reasons (cost mainly and for what it is intended for) decided not to engineer in a balance shaft to that engine, but did offer to those who wanted, some type add-on counter balancing kits to help smooth out some those vibrations. Being it's all heavyduty construction (block, head and internels) it could very well handle the vibrations inherit to the design. Whereas other in-line 4 or even 5 cyl engines similiar in displacement(3.9L or less), gas or diesel will mostly have an aluminum head and block (intented overall weigh savings) or cast iron block with an aluminum head so those balance shafts were needed not only for smoothness but to also help extend the service life of those engines.

The Isuzu 4BD1T is the same displacement, HP and torque as a 4BT Cummins but is lighter, has even less issues, vibrates less, and is just as tunable, plus all models come factory with an inline pump. Not to mention they are much cheaper and easier to rebuild.

Now about its crate successor, the R2.8?

It may be underpowered (stock), and a little overpriced I do want to swap a 4bt into a Ram 1500 2nd gen with a 5 speed....just because I can. You do bring up very valid points mind you.

$16k for a rebuilt 4bt? Any Ideas how many junkyard SBC/LS' that you could buy, build and swap for that... Lol.

Anyone got any pointers to acquire a ridiculously small diesel engine? I'm talking single-cylinder, at most 250cc

Grid heater is over rated. And my 12v don't leak. Fairly sure fords dont like to start without there glowplugs.

IDK? I ran into a guy that was tickled pink to have it as a power plant in his Willy's Jeep.

How many have you owned and your own problems?

Swapped my f150, averages 34 in town. Cost me 500 dollars for the engine. There's a reason why they are desirable, used in agriculture, marine, construction, on road, stationary, basically everywhere.

Where on earth did you find $16,000usd price?

I got me a v2403 conversion myself. The B series doesn’t cut the bill..

Cummins took a page from Mercedes-Benz with this engine. I had a 1958 180D that was built in multiple variants for different applications.

You only mention the issue of the pin and cylinder head, the cylinder head crack is the same in many engines. JOHN DEERE have plenty powertech with cracks in the engine block, plenty here, that's a big issue. I think here where I live is cheap to repair 4BT and it has a long live, like the Perkins 1104, I have a 1104 with 30.000 hs now to repair, and 4BT with more than 20.000 hs. I think you to take a look at the market, geography and aplycations.

Well I have a delivery van with a 4bt in it. Maybe I should put it up for sale.

Finally someone is talking sense. I don't understand WHY someone would put 4BT to car. No point at all.

4bts are straight money makers when attached to the correct equipment. Makes a great air compressor.

Reputations matter even overblown ones

The 3.7 series ii Hercules is awesome. So is the 433T Allis-chalmers.

Excellent !!!

Sounds just like a video I watched from someone else, 3 years ago. Almost word for word

"Doesn't have cylinder liners"... uh, neither does pretty much any light duty diesel engine.

You can’t really list dry cylinders as a con when basically no diesels have liners except the Cummins

i used a cut up shasta soda can for my killer dowel pin fix 😂😂😂

Just real quick - boring cylinders does SQUAT for displacement. Stroke is where you really gain CI's

As you mentioned the 4BT is over priced, but for an equally good solid diesel that's not over priced try a Nissan (Datsun) SD22 or the SD24. They are also 4 cylinder'd diesels and they are awesome engines. Aloha........................

I have funny story while looking for another Ford Ranger. I found decent 2000 Ranger 4x4 and guy asked what I was going to do with it. I'm putting my V8 in from my very rusty 99 Ranger. Guy said I wouldn't do that it will ruin it WHAT. I would put in Cummins 4BT engine I'm like that will certainly ruin the truck. My god 4BT around 800 pounds, plus going through bs building mounts, getting adapter to make trans fit, fuel system, you name and keep 4x4. Plus dealing with cold weather and gelling. Nose heavy truck plow like dump truck in snow. V8 from 2001 Explorer whole thing plug and play in 99 to 2001 Ranger as long as you use AWD. I'm using Ranger t-case. V8 far lighter and torsion bars are the same as V8 Explorer just have to turn adjusting screws in. I'm Cummins certified, I deal with gelled trucks so why would I want all headaches for my winter vehicle............... Yep he wouldn't sell it to me said his grandpa wouldn't like that he was diesel engine guy. It was his grandpa truck he died year before. It all started in my 99 ranger, to 03 ranger and now 05 ranger. I did rebuild engine before putting it in 05 because it had 260000 miles on it. DIdn't really need rebuilt either was very little wear. Cyl #8 had some more wear injector leaked fuel on that cyl

For that price I rather buy a rebuild 1HD-FTE!

The 4bt used to be a cheap dang near indestructible (still is) engine that you could find in a box truck or some other machine in the junk yard for a couple hundred bucks. It’s way over priced now.

Tough motor. 60xt Skidsteer with 11000 hrs still runs great.

16k holy crap. I remember when people bought old box trucks dirt cheap to get the 4bt. Can’t believe anyone would pay that much for a rattly old boat anchor. It’s a good engine but not worth that kind of money.

Everybody drilling over the 4bt and I'm like...nahh imma just grab this mini duramax yall can have that damn rattle can

B family engines are solid as it gets. The 4bt, 6bt and the 8.3 are as solid as they come. Swapping them into a serious off road keep is asinine.

VW engine have a timing belt. My 6BT has 340km. Not internal work has been done. I did fix Killer dowel pin.