Diesel swap

[arthur g]

Any body thought of this I've seen it before but where do I start

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[DinoShepherd]

Let me try and give you some perspective here.

If, on the difficulty and expense scale of 1 to 10. 1 being like changing brake pads and 10 being sending a man to the moon.

Swapping a diesel into this truck would be more like a 6 or a 7.

Not to be a killjoy, but If you are asking where to start, this project probably isn't for you.

Getting a diesel motor to fit into the chassis will be the (relatively) easy part. The hard part will be making it talk to all the integrated electrical systems. Getting the 1/2 ton chassis to survive under diesel power is another story. But that's what a solid axle swap is for.

My very gentle suggestion is that if you are hot for a diesel is to sell what you have and buy an Excursion. It will be much less hassle and money.

 

[DinoShepherd]

Part two.

Search f150 diesel swap for a ton more info. Same basic architecture.

There is a cool company called destroked. Destroked - THE Cummins Conversion Company : Home Page that sells a cool conversion kit. The kit is about $6k and includes MOST everything except the cummins diesel motor itself.

Some assembly required.

Seems like a cool winter project to me.

 

[tonydiv]

If you are thinking of doing something to increase efficiency and the life of the motor, a great option to think about is an LPG or propane conversion. There are dual fuel setups and complete lpg conversions. With the dual fuel version you can get a range of over 600 miles. Once the conversion is done, your running costs become very low. Because it runs so clean, you can about double your oil change interval, and the motor lasts much longer.
Propane forklifts run for decades without motor rebuilds.

 

[Ferde Grofe]

The diesel engine has never been more popular in its 100-year history than at this very moment. But there are only three diesels you can even buy in all 50 states right now. That's crazy!

 

[tonydiv]

I assume that you're talking about diesel trucks, because there are several diesel cars available. (and more on the way)

 

[arthur g]

I think ill go with a 4bt and ill need to upgrade front end transmissin and brakes where can I get mounts for a 4bt in the 98 xlt

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[tallsville]

there is someone on here that put a 4bt into a 2nd gen. He posted a thread about it

http://www.expeditionforum.com/f42/expy-diesel-conversion-22051/

here is direct link to his fte page

2003 Expedition re-power with Cummins 4BT - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

 

[sgtowing]

Off topic but hey tonydiv, when did you come to the wonderful $h!thole I call home?

 

[b514]

If you are thinking of doing something to increase efficiency and the life of the motor, a great option to think about is an LPG or propane conversion. There are dual fuel setups and complete lpg conversions. With the dual fuel version you can get a range of over 600 miles. Once the conversion is done, your running costs become very low. Because it runs so clean, you can about double your oil change interval, and the motor lasts much longer.

x2. I heard LPG conversions are really popular in Europe, especially with cab drivers, because LPG is really cheap to run. There's a LPG filling station in many gas stations.

On our continent it's mostly fleet vehicles that use LPG because there are not that many filling stations. A conversion is cheaper than a diesel swap. Around $4000 here in Canada I've been told.

Dunno how risky it is to have that high pressure gas tank in the trunk in case of an accident though.

 

[arthur g]

Hmmm what kind of power could one get out of lpg converson

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[tonydiv]

From what I've read, the gains aren't much. The benefits show up in your wallet from lower fuel and maintenance costs.

 

[Lightnig]

With no other changes to the engine, going to LPG will actually lose you a bit of power and mileage (a guy tends to lean on the pedal harder when power is down). Back in the day I drove a courier van here in the city that I had converted to the stuff (was 5-15¢ a litre when gas was going for 80¢). My power was definately a little down from when it was on gas and the system was very tempermental in the cold.

Have a read here for a bit of info about it

The other big downside to a propane vehicle; finding gas stations that have it. I don't know about down south, but up here it is losing popularity (I think because the savings on the price difference just aren't there, only about $0.25 a litre last time I looked) and the cost of the conversion can be quite high - I paid ~ $2,500 back in the early 90's and that was with a gov't incentive reduction. Road trips were particularly difficult, there was always a great amount of time spent researching where fueling stations were located and the hours they were open (no such thing as self-serve propane), it really restricted the routes I could take and the hours I could travel.

Oh, and parking in enclosed, heated, or underground garages is off limits too. the whole gas expansion thing can cause a release from the tank. I don't know about elsewhere, but here it is illegal to park a propane vehicle indoors.

I would not drive another propane vehicle myself, the upsides simply do not out weigh the downs for my use.


However, there is huge potential for increased power if you build the engine specifically for it due to a much higher octane rating - plus it runs much cleaner than gas. The shop that did my conversion also raced cars at the local track and ran propane; apparently they built the engines like they would for race gas, but ran super cheap fuel instead.

 

[Lightnig]

...

Dunno how risky it is to have that high pressure gas tank in the trunk in case of an accident though.

The issue with tank location is not in the case of an accident as such. If the tank blows, which is highly unlikely, you will be a goner whether the tank is in the trunk or underneath between the frame rails - a bit of sheet metal between the tank and your body would be meaningless. Just for fun, google BLEVE and watch a few vid's - no, that is not a typo

The danger with a tank mounted in the vehicle cabin is the possiblity of a leak. While it is not poisonous, I do not like the idea of sitting a small room filled with propane...

 

[daoud el-massri]

Can u use propane in a supercharger or will it go boom. Dont laugh

 

[tonydiv]

The system would have to be set up for forced induction. The fuel curve and perhaps the injectors would have to be adjusted to make sure that it doesn't run lean.

 

[arthur g]

Ive decided to go the cumins 4bt route

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[toms89]

Ive decided to go the cumins 4bt route

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You should start a thread or writeup when you do your conversion so we can follow your progress.

 

[arthur g]

I will

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[arthur g]

I am working on the parts list now aside from the engine I learned a few thing the HP for the 4.6 for my year is 215, some one help me out here I need the weight of the 98 4.6L on a different note I am working on procuring a Cummins 4BT. the transmission is another thing and it looks like I will have to weld my own engine mounts for it.