Posted by Paul (in NY) [162.158.78.151] on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 11:56:40 :
In Reply to: To 4BT, or not 4BT... that is the question. posted by Chris Davis [172.68.141.13] on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 23:22:44 :
Hi Chris;
Good to see you back. As Tom mentioned I have done 5 Cummins conversions; Power Wagon, Carryall, Power Giant W300, M37 and Jeep CJ7. The Dodge Old iron got Cummins 4BTA, CPL 857 engines and NV-4500 5 speed with NP-205 T cases. The Jeep got a Cummins B3.3 engine.
You mention the engine has a coupled 5 speed OD transmission. I could be either a NV-4500 (GM or Dodge) or a ZF-S542 used by Ford to replace the older T19 tranny. The Ford ZF is a good transmission. Its only drawback is the the clutch slave cylinder is internal. To change slave, one must remove everything off the back of the engine to get to the slave. Its significant work. Whereas the NV-4500 uses a external slave and changed as fast a you can pull 2 bolts, stuff the new slave in place and bolt down, quick and easy.
The NV4500 could either be a NV-4500 or a NV-4500HD. The NV-4500 was used behind Gas engines with a 22 spline input shaft. The NV-4500HD used behind diesels with a 29 spline input shaft. Either behind a Cummins 4BTA will serve well.
The ZF-S542 came in 2 versions. The gas version which is a direct bolt up to the Ford T-19 flywheel housing adapter or the ZF-S542HD with was used behind the diesels and requires serious mods to allow bolt up to the Ford T-19 Flywheel Housing adapter. However, if you have a gas duty ZF and you have a diesel duty ZF, the internals from the HD will fit in the gas tranny case and you now have a HD in a standard duty case.
In my opinion, and we all have opinions………our old iron ‘properly’ converted to diesel with the extra mods you mention will seriously raise the value. But only to the right person who dreams of diesel power which is wonderful. I used to suggest a budget if $8500 to convert to diesel. Now with prices crazy, I suggest a budget of $10K. But all of that is saved by this truck you mention already coming with Cummins and 5 speed. My opinion, is to go with the diesel and you will never look back.
Now we must be careful. The 4BTA may be a road/vehicle engine or it could be a stationary power engine for use such as a Pump, Generator etc. The main difference is the injection pump. The Cummins Data plate on the front left corner of the engine will have a CPL number listed. If you email me that CPL I can tell you exactly what it is. Also the NV-4500 should have a paper bar code label on the top shift tower. Email me the long number, as a example; Dodge,1994-1996 4x4 Heavy Duty (diesel),number on bar code label 52108225, example only. The number will absolutely ID what the NV-4500 is.
If you decide to go with the diesel, and I think you should, we can do a phone call or many phone calls. I can smooth out many of the bumps and washboard road in the conversion and make it quite simple, as long as you have equipment and some basic fab skills. I would be happy to help you as much as needed to get her rolling down the road.
Click on the Can Do articles below and you can see all my builds with the Cummins all in the open. Each truck has its own build album.
Paul ( I think I just wore out my keyboard
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