What is it REALLY Like Driving a 4BT Powered Ford? Find Out! Acceleration Tests and EGT Info

After many requests, here is a driving video of this 1977 F250 powered by a Cummins. Acceleration 0-60 is around 15 seconds. Yes, it's slow. EGT data included also.
1977 F250, 4BT Cummins 184 HP 485 FT/LBS, ZF547, BW1356, Dana 60-80
Check out the instagram: / rustyjunkexhibition

[@n3bruce]

Dad had the opportunity when he was working for Cummins to get a 4BT prototype test engine,and brought a clapped out 1974 Dodge half ton with full time 4wd and a manual about 3 years before the 1989 models came out with the 6BT option in the W250. He pulled the tired 318 out and with an adapter plate, and fabricated engine mounts, he got the thing running. It was a beast to drive, sounded like a bulldozer and had a top speed of 60 miles an hour. Dad gave the truck to my BIL, and he used it for hauling firewood and similar chores for a few more years after Dad brought himself a brand new 1989 W250. It had the basic creature comforts like air conditioning and an automatic transmission. He drove it until 2016 when he couldn't climb into the cab anymore at the age of 87. It lived a relatively easy life on the northern neck of Virginia, so even after 27 years, it was still in pretty good shape. I am now its caretaker, and retired myself now.

[@slappopotamus1001]

So you are old enough to be retired from working, but you don't know the difference between "brought" and "bought"?

[@DirectCurrent4u]

@n3bruce If You would ever like to sell it please let me know.Thanks for sharing Your story about it. It sounds like a really awesome truck!👍

[@jacklandismcgowan1413]

That’s a Great looking truck...I lived up in Western Wyoming back in the late 1970’s. I’ve just recently retired and I’m going to spend next summer out there...Beautiful country. Great video👍👍👍

[@sp33dp4reak]

Perfect truck. Everything you need and nothing you don’t. Very nice build. Thanks for sharing.

[@Terk131]

When building a truck for ones purpose and everyday use you do not have to have insane hp numbers, you need enough for what you want to do with a little on reserve. Fuel economy and reliability are key for an everyday driver. I think personally you did an awesome job. I have thought of dropping a 4bt into my Jeep J10 but may go a different route with a CAT C4.4 with a Cummins p-pump just to be different. Should be a fun build.

[@lloydbrewer4229]

Beautiful/perfect (truck, engine, countryside you live in and weather). Thank you for posting

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnchildress6717]

I like your truck.Have driven well over 1million miles with old school Cummins, starting with a 250 Cummins l67 model ,later 290 ,n350%400s. Beautiful landscapes&real sharp clear video.

[@morgansword]

I started working for my dad (drafted at early digits) in the late fifties, ran a yarder that had a 150 cummins and then he had a Mack, a B model that had the 220 in it. I went down the road being just a kid and see other rigs out there, they would roll on past me and it kinda hurt cause I had my foot in it as far as safe said go, but we had hill in the cascade mountains that were not real steep but they sure were long and I would be at the back of the pack just waiting for the passing lane to show up and I would pull up and then keep on going till I was first in line again and usually at the dump for logging before they got there. They would rib me as being only fourteen but just going too fast. So being in trouble with dad for speeding convinced him to let mom ride with me on same situation. First time I ever seen mom in a big truck was with me and her saying don't go as fast as your father! In two mornings in a row heading out fairly early loaded, I got pasted as usual but come those hills I got most of them as some had started a bit earlier than I could talk mom into. She told dad just exactly how I drove and that I never scared her like he did. Dad an I sat around a smudge pot drinking coffee an he asked me if I could put diesel engines in his other rigs... I told him yes as he had put end wrenches in my hands to play with when I was still in the "pin on's" so it came easier for me. By the time uncle sam drafted me, he had ten trucks with cummins engines in them and of course learned how to step on the fuel system a bit with buttons and shimes. I got home from nam and dad had bought five new trucks. Two of them with 318 detroits. After I came home from the service I just drove for dad, for a while then of course parted ways.... but not before he had me put the cummins in the two trucks that had detroits. Not a bolt in swap but still doable. The early years diesel engines were heavy and not bogged down with emissions that took as much as they save. What my point is, why think of a additive that would reduce mileage so that the "air" was so much better. When you put a engine in a city, there is going to be problems. Use what you need to clean the air up including electric, but at 73 years of age now, I have never had headaches from being in and around diesel engines but just the car in my garage for say ten minutes or a lot less most of time, even with the door open on garage, I got headaches from gasoline. I am too old and prejudiced to believe all thats printed

[@johnchildress6717]

Way to go Morgan.I did drive a 73 IH cab over ocasisonoly with a 350 Detroit that the governor did not work on.I worked 28 yrs for one company.The owner made sure all employees took very good care of all equipment.trucks dozers goes and all.The old guy that drove the old in was very particular about the truck.He acted like it was his.I was picking with him after driving HIS truck and told him the tach.would go all the way around the dial.About gave the old guy a heart attack.He was screaming about blowing it up, I never let it go over 2100.

[@supertruckerextraordinaire]

Man i need to move out there in the worst way. New England is too congested anymore. Gorgeous truck as well! Cool old ride👍🏻

[@louis-philippelavoie6929]

I dunno what perfection is,but this truck is damn near to it

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

Nice truck man. Love those old cummins engines. Im Looking to buy a dodge with a Cummins in it. My grandfather was the 2nd owner.

[@Doober3dw]

Tin Cup is such a fun drive

[@nicholasrohland7194]

pulls like a train - very nice

[@danhintz710]

What did you do for motor mounts?

[@blakemartin158]

What color green is the truck?

[@randypeacock8062]

How much does she tow?

[@almirria6753]

better call safelite for that windshield..But this is a great vid. I just wish I had the monies avail to do this with my 02 Explore Stort Trac

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

Good call!

[@ridewithgnr2116]

Nice old truck. I have a 79, mod auto, supercab, same color, I need to get her back on the road.

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

Yes you do. That would mean more of us and less of them!

[@NotaRobot_gif]

MPG?

[@joewoodard2513]

Are you in Wyoming?

[@jameshanson7065]

Where is this? I like the scenic drive just as much as I do the truck.

[@backyardbuilttrucks1]

It sounds like a my dad's case skid steer which has a 4bt in it. They have there own sound .

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

They sure do.

[@andyreid7274]

Best body style ford ever made.

[@kylewagner8685]

Bumpside is my favorite. Dentside is a close second.

[@andyreid7274]

@@kylewagner8685 both are fantastic looking trucks

[@matthewketron1041]

What do you think about just keeping a np435 instead of swapping to the 5 speed

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

Overdrive is key. The more gears a diesel has, the better.

[@chrismoss875]

I'm in the process of doing this swap to my 92 ford f150 xlt 4x4 , I have 3 gas tanks 2 stock ones and 1 50 in the bed. Trying to figure my milage out, how far you think I can go with a 101 gallons of diesel?

[@jacobdavis6200]

I’d say 2k miles 😂🤯

[@TheRowdyJ]

whats the tire size and gear ratio? do you have an intercooler? last one, is it the stock turbo?

[@batmansdad3195]

He has a video with the pros and cons. He goes deep into everything on that vid

[@kylebuckner579]

What size fuel tank does it have? I have a 4bt in a Ranger so I love the vids

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

60 Gallons. 1200+ miles of range!

[@TheRowdyJ]

@@RustyJunkExhibition damn!

[@rileyrogers3912]

What generation of Ranger? Been thinking long and hard about doing the swap on my '95, got any tips on doing it?

[@thegreasemonkeyinwilson5656]

Hey buddy just about watching your video and I curious if you did all work swap in your dodge chassis and the Ford

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

Sure did. Torch and a welder!

[@thegreasemonkeyinwilson5656]

Thanks... u have to removed the brackets mounted?!!!

[@Bens359pete]

I bet on flat ground in FLA, that thing would see 40 mpg ! Im looking forward to my 4bt swap

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

Sea level air and flat ground would make a big difference. At 45 MPH 30-33 MPG would be do-able. I've done 28 MPG in the mountains here at 45 MPH.

[@Deweyfd13]

How did you keep your old gearshift and use the ZF 5?

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

I just welded the old school shifter on the ZF5 shifter base. The funky bends are a staple of these old Dentside Fords.

[@Deweyfd13]

@@RustyJunkExhibition yes they are and that’s what I noticed. Looks cool great truck man.

[@homerfj1100]

I suppose it is slow, relatively slow and probably noisy. On visiting the US in 2018 I hired a car. Nissan Altima 2.5 litre. Drove from Las Vegas airport to hotel, wandered around LV then off to Phoenix, stayed in Flagstaff and other Arizona towns. 3 weeks driving. CVT transmission. I couldn't fault 33mpg everywhere. I mean, you can't fault it for a 2.5 litre peppy motor. However, will it still be around as long as the above?. I can't answer that question except.... maybe there'll be some folk who'll keep a 2.5 Nissan Altima going for as long as they can!. I'd like a 1965 RR.

[@Ritter08mart]

What’s her comfortable highway speed? Does the 4BT like to cruise at 70-75 mph?

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

55-70 is the happy place. Above 65MPH wind noise starts getting a little loud. 75MPH the engine starts making more noise than I like.

[@Ritter08mart]

@@RustyJunkExhibition thanks bud

[@lanelyons9303]

looks like kettle falls washington!

[@TurningGuns]

Kinda reminds me of south of smoot.

[@yakaduh]

im just dreaming to had this 4bt or 6bt, and you fulllfill it

[@gucciguilty5848]

How much does this vehicle weigh?

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

6300 ish

[@joeyscleaninglady2877]

You gotta turn the smoke screw down too much unburned gas. On mine I just get a light haze on heavy acceleration this looks like you are overfueling. Only pull about 900 WOT up a grade.

[@joeyscleaninglady2877]

err unburned diesel lol

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

I have the smoke screw backed out all the way but still get a little more pre-boost haze than I'd like. I've seen some people mill the surface that the fuel pin rests on to get adjustment out of it. Any other suggestions?

[@joeyscleaninglady2877]

@@RustyJunkExhibition what type of turbo are you running the stock h1c? Also how big is your intercooler? I have an intercooler from a Hino truck (29x18x3). How much PSI are you seeing at WOT and cruising?

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

@@joeyscleaninglady2877 HX30 turbo. Cruising 55-65 I see 10-15 PSI. WOT is just under 30 PSI. It's a stock 4BTA intercooler.

[@RustyCrankshaft]

@@RustyJunkExhibition A good "mild" ramp cut fuel pin will really help. There are also a couple outfits that make a longer smoke and full load screw that helps. Hungry diesel and PDR both have them. Takes a combo of fuel pin, starwheel and smoke screw adjustment to tune it where it doesn't smoke but still fuels hard. A 9cm wastegated housing HX35 would help too I think (there are a ton of options, but that one is inexpensive).

[@vietmanesemechanic6331]

Nice. i had a 78 Bronco w38" tires. how u think it will be towing 4 ton trailer? Thank you

[@RustyJunkExhibition]

Short wheel base, huge tires... Not ideal. 4BT can handle that weight easy though.

[@vietmanesemechanic6331]

i meant to ask if your truck pulling a 4 ton trailer

[@tomkelly3896]

I give ya 6000 for it✌