1956 F100 Project.

[dennis]

I am a person with too many projects and not enough time. While still in the Army I was stationed in Alaska, and I bought a 55 Ford half ton pick-up. I drove it like that for a while and found a 56 2 ton truck. Bought it, and robbed it of its cab. I liked the 56 cab better. This was my daily driver for the next 10 years. One night while on the way home I hit 2 white tail doe's at 70mph. They where running side by side. The truck has been under a shed since then. I have collected enough sheet metal to re-asssemble the doghouse. I gave the old 351 away years ago, and sold the C-4 automatic. My 20 year old son wants the truck real bad. I am thinking Cummins six banger. I don't know squat about them, but have seen some impressive modified Dodges around. Any experience on this forum with these engines? I really don't like computer controlled engines. I own and operate a small garage where we cater to European brands, and work on them all the time, which is why I don't like them. Call me paranoid but one of the reasons I am driving mechanicaly fueled diesels is they can't be shut down by an EM pulse, which in today's world could happen. Their are also more fuel choices, mixtures, ect... Weird post Huh? Oh well, gonna hit the post button anyway

[Wayland]

The Cummins 6BT is, IMHO, one of the best engines ever built. I had a 90 Dodge with 415,000 km on it, and the motor ran like new, and used no oil between changes. Lots of power, even in stock form (although they can easily be modded for lots more) and excellent mileage too. I regularly got 28mpg (imperial) with the 90, which had a 5 speed. the 89 I'm now driving has a 727 auto, and gets about 23mpg. I think swapping one of these motors into an older truck is a fabulous idea.

[maxfax]

X2 !!!  This would definitly make a nice ride.. And plenty of room to put the 6bt in there..  A brake upgrade may be in order though, if you haven't done so already.. 

[theman53]

X2 !!!  This would definitly make a nice ride.. And plenty of room to put the 6bt in there..  A brake upgrade may be in order though, if you haven't done so already

and kingpins or just put a different axle up there as it is heavy. I think it would be an awesome project as I have wanted one in my wife's daily Jeep cherokee sport...but never want to take on something like that.

[maxfax]

Oh yeah.. I forgot about the joy's of replacing king pins...  Thank god they almost last forever when kept greased..

I have wanted one in my wife's daily Jeep cherokee sport...but never want to take on something like that.

I've seen a few 4bt's swapped into Cherokees..  I think they used a GM trans since the adapter is pretty available..

[dennis]

X2 !!!  This would definitly make a nice ride.. And plenty of room to put the 6bt in there..  A brake upgrade may be in order though, if you haven't done so already[/quote]
and kingpins or just put a different axle up there as it is heavy. I think it would be an awesome project as I have wanted one in my wife's daily Jeep cherokee sport...but never want to take on something like that.
[/quote]
There is a company that makes a bolt on or weld on fixture to use eary 90s Dodge Dakota suspension, and steering components. It would at least still be a truck and with independent front suspension. Looks to be an easy install too. The 727 trannys were pretty strong if I remember correctly. At least thats what my old Mopar buddies use to tell me. What years salvage trucks do I need to be on the look-out for the 6bt?

[Wayland]

89-98.5 Dodge trucks used the mech. 6BT.

[dennis]

89-98.5 Dodge trucks used the mech. 6BT.

Should be plenty ou there then.

[745 turbogreasel]

The 1000lb engine, and massive torque probably call for some frame reinforcement.

[Rabbit on Roids]

The 1000lb engine, and massive torque probably call for some frame reinforcement.

yea, im thinking the stock frame might not like the overweight cummins. if you build it, dont build much power. if you want power, you should probably add some more frame under it.

[dennis]

Its common practice to box the frames. I'v seen a lot of old trucks with old school cast iron big blocks in them though. Lots of suspension goodies on the market for them as well.
 
Gotta get this thing inside. Shes not looking so well

[Turbinepowered]

Forget the Cummins. 4-53 T that sucker. Two-stroke diesel fury!

It'd even be somewhat period appropriate, too. 1950s technology two-stroke diesel and a 1950s truck.

[dennis]

Forget the Cummins. 4-53 T that sucker. Two-stroke diesel fury!

It'd even be somewhat period appropriate, too. 1950s technology two-stroke diesel and a 1950s truck.

Naaaa. I might want to pull something.

[Turbinepowered]

Forget the Cummins. 4-53 T that sucker. Two-stroke diesel fury!

It'd even be somewhat period appropriate, too. 1950s technology two-stroke diesel and a 1950s truck.

Naaaa. I might want to pull something.

250hp pulls 26k pounds... I do it every single day I go into work.

A 4-53T will pull anything that frame will take.

If that doesn't tickle you, move up to a 6v53T, and move mountains.

[bajacalal]

I've seen a few 4bt's swapped into Cherokees..  I think they used a GM trans since the adapter is pretty available..

Both GM and Ford drivetrains were used with the 4bt. These are usually found in delivery vans. A lot of these were repower units, not original engines. Many of them originally had a Ford 300 cid inline 6 (and 4 speed manual) and a 4bt repower kit with the adapters was available from Cummins. Dropping a 4bt into a Ford pickup  is easy because all the engineering work has been done, with the right parts you can bolt a 4bt up to where an inline 6 was designed to go (but not on a truck that old, 1980 and up iirc).

6bt engines were are found in some medium duty trucks, something else you might want to consider looking at.