Just like the 5.9 inline 6 Cummins is the 6bt, so the 3.9 inline 4 cummins is the 4bt. Basically its a 5.9 with two less cylinders. The mechanical ones came with either a VE rotary pump like the 1st gen 12v's or an inline P-pump like the 2nd gen 12v's. I think many common applications for the 4bt were bread trucks and such.

 

My uncle has a 4 cyl Detroit, I think it's a 4-71(?) turbo+supercharger. I have always thought it would be bad *** in an old ton and a half or two ton. Just something a little different....

 

The Isuzu's can make every bit as much power as the 4bt and be as much if not greater at reliability. Plus the Isuzu is a sleeved engine making easier to rebuild.

 

Those are cool old engines. You can pull some pretty good RPM's with them being 2-cycle(!), they sound really cool straight-piped.

 

My goal is to get a 6v53 into something, Ive seen them swapped into both a mid 80's chevy one ton and an 80's Dodge Powerwagon.

 

I have never heard the 4 cyl run, but there is a 16-71 in an old wheel loader around here that sounds insane!

 

Bt6

 

You might get a kick out of this.


I love the sound of those old Supercharged 2 strokers. They were way ahead of their time in some aspects.

 

my freind has a 4-71 det in a 78 f250 4x4. It has big injectors, is turbo and blown, with a military 5 speed, not the fastest truck but you cant slow it down. If you like noise this truck is bad, It makes semi trucks sound quiet. It will shake your fillings out and ear plugs are recomended. The true diesel!

 

Any idea what kind of power he is making with the 4-71? I briefly tried to find ratings for a stock engine, but I don't know if it was for the turboed version. Stock 4cyl looked like 121 which isn't too shabby for something that old. Worked for a farmer once who had a couple potato trucks with one of the six cylinder detroits in them. They were a blast to drive. Keep them wound up and shift as fast as you can! Loved em!