4bt swap

[woodwright]

I've searched around the site, and spent a bunch of time over at 4btswaps.com. I've read a bunch of posts about guys thinking about doing this swap, but has anybody here actually swapped a 4bt into a 67-72 k10? I'm looking to build a 4x4 work truck, that will pull my tool trailer around(maybe 3000# soaking wet), and get good mileage. On 4btswaps.com, there is swaps into everything. There is a guy with an 84 k5, with 1T axles and 37's, an nv4500 and a bone stock 4bt. He gets around 20mpg in town, and it seems to move around pretty good. It sounds like you can boost the power in those pretty easy. There is a company here in spokane that "recycles" Frito Lay vans that have the 4bt's, and most of them were mated to th400's, or sm465's. seems like a pretty easy swap.

[clinebarger]

There good little engines & very good on fuel but are way underpowerd in stock form (100 to 120HP) & viberate alot more than a 6BT. Not trying to talk you out of it but have you looked into a 6BT?

[Wrenchbender Ret]

I used to do a lot of work on Frito trucks back when they ran a lot of these. They were slugish, noisey, smoky, & had a lot of vibration. You had to use a special alternator with big bearings. What about a 6.2 or 6.5 V-8 deisel?

[special-K]

I`d like to check into swapping a 4BT.

[basemodel67]

I have seen them swapped into all kinds of wheelers here... seem to do alright if you tune them and turn up the boost. I say go for it.

[Longhorn Man]

i used to do the installs for frito lay putting that 4bt, ans then 4bta into the p/30 that had a 6.5.
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the 4b. Very loud, rough, unrefined, and expensive parts... plus slower than a pinto with 2 plug wires missing.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

i used to do the installs for frito lay putting that 4bt, ans then 4bta into the p/30 that had a 6.5.
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the 4b. Very loud, rough, unrefined, and expensive parts... plus slower than a pinto with 2 plug wires missing.

I agree. I researched them a lot when I was in the "gathering info" stage, and I decided on a 6.2/6.5. I drove a jeep that I guy put a 4bt in, and I would honestly sell my truck if it rattled and vibrated like that thing did. They are durable engines, but not well suited for a pickup, IMO.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by woodwright

I've searched around the site, and spent a bunch of time over at 4btswaps.com. I've read a bunch of posts about guys thinking about doing this swap, but has anybody here actually swapped a 4bt into a 67-72 k10? I'm looking to build a 4x4 work truck, that will pull my tool trailer around(maybe 3000# soaking wet), and get good mileage. On 4btswaps.com, there is swaps into everything. There is a guy with an 84 k5, with 1T axles and 37's, an nv4500 and a bone stock 4bt. He gets around 20mpg in town, and it seems to move around pretty good. It sounds like you can boost the power in those pretty easy. There is a company here in spokane that "recycles" Frito Lay vans that have the 4bt's, and most of them were mated to th400's, or sm465's. seems like a pretty easy swap.

To answer your question, though, someone here had a 6AT swap (TP from Cntl PA was his username) , but I don't know of anyone here that has done the 4BT swap.