You're gonna have to do some serious frontend upgrading to use a 6bt, you'd probably be better off with the 4bt. They're out there you can find them in old bread trucks and what not. I wouldn't use any GM diesel jmo

 

I agree with not putting in a 6.2 or 6.5. a 4bt is actually a very reliable lil powerhouse. on dieselpowermag.com there is an early bronco that has a 400hp 4bt that gets like 40mpg. That is crazy. and its relatively light.

 

400 hp 40 mpg can't beat that

 

EXACTLY! seriously though I would recommend readin the article. there are two diesel bronco articles on there. one is the 4bt and the other has 2 powerstroke broncos

 

The only choice I'd ever make for diesel power is between a 4BT and a 6BT.
Cummins Power!

 

obviously a cummins lover-had many and building a 6bta right now-but im also a lover of detroits, they make serious power off the bat-just like the cummins-
also the vee,s are totally hot rod looking engines-akin to the mopar hemis-
i really wanted a detroit for my latest build,but even stock the 6 pots n/a seem to have too much juice [both power and torque]for my rigs trans and axles-the cummins will still stretch the drive train to the max,but came in lighter,and for real good money.
i,d say your best bet would be research existing build diaries and see where the builders who have run these typ of mods found problems and solutions.
a lot will depend on your input and equipment,the more tools and ability you have, the less you will have out to rely on others.
good luck -keep em smokin'

 

Don't just limit your self to that small selection. A lot of a swap is putting whatever engine in that happens to show up at a good price. For instance, If I had to plan a swap I would have put a 4bt into my truck but an Isuzu 4bd1-t popped up for almost free. The 4bd1-t is imo the second most swapped 4 cylinder diesel right next to the 4bt. tons of guys have done it and know what to do. But don't just limit yourself to what other's have done. I've seen people with small Nissian engines in trucks and those things are pretty cool little engines. Even something like an old 4-53t detroit might be cool.

 

ditto to the 4-53. next swap I do will be a two stroke detroit. they sound so awesome =)

 

I've got a Dana 44-HD (8-lug/bigger tubes) with passenger-side diff if you wind up with either a 4bt or a 6bt (BOTH ARE HEAVY!!!), and a Dana 70 rear. Bought'em both for the Ramcharger, and then didn't use'em.

If I ever do another "build", I'd prefer to start with a CUCV and just repower it with a BOMBed 4bt.

One thing to keep in mind with the 4bt...they've got a reputation for even more vibration than the 5.9.

 

my truck still idles pretty low, and at idle I feel like Im sitting in a dozer from all the vibration. but as soon as the RPMs go up a hundred or two, it smooths out