Cummins R2.8l
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Cummins R2.8l
Has anyone toyed with these? Comes with harness etc, weighs 500lbs is 28"x25"x25" in size and costs $7500. Diesel swaps into old bullnose F-150s always caught my attention. This seems like it would be a cool swap into a 1980-1986 truck.
Tuned
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From: Northern Utah
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Oh yes the ever popular knocker. I wouldn't mind one of those in my 86 either. Actually was my goal for years. Getting harder to find donors for swaps.
From a cost perspective the R2.8L kit comes with everything ready to go for $7500 right now. I'm not sure I could find a 4bt rebuild it and get her installed less the transmission in my area for that right now.
From a cost perspective the R2.8L kit comes with everything ready to go for $7500 right now. I'm not sure I could find a 4bt rebuild it and get her installed less the transmission in my area for that right now.
Mountain Pass
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We got one of the R2.8's in the shop for a custom conversion. We took it apart and designed an adapter for it and it worked OK. Power's good, runs well so far.
In my opinion, the ONLY selling point of the 2.8 is that it is emissions legal in most states for old vehicles. They are a very cheaply built engine with some real hack stuff inside. They use oddball China truck accessories, loads of plastic and I think they lie about assembled in USA. If they are assembled here they should maybe deburr things and get the metal chips out before they put the pan on.
There's other engines that are probably much better and less costly. I don't think Cummins is seeing the sales numbers they need and I don't think they care in the big picture.
Can't beat a 12 valve. The R2.8 is just marketing fluff for a Chinese mini truck engine with a real bad reputation.
In my opinion, the ONLY selling point of the 2.8 is that it is emissions legal in most states for old vehicles. They are a very cheaply built engine with some real hack stuff inside. They use oddball China truck accessories, loads of plastic and I think they lie about assembled in USA. If they are assembled here they should maybe deburr things and get the metal chips out before they put the pan on.
There's other engines that are probably much better and less costly. I don't think Cummins is seeing the sales numbers they need and I don't think they care in the big picture.
Can't beat a 12 valve. The R2.8 is just marketing fluff for a Chinese mini truck engine with a real bad reputation.
Mountain Pass
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maybe ill look at a crate 4bt... or maybe ill just have my I6 rebuilt.
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1986 F-150. Driven a handful of diesels from mechanical 1.6l VWs to 7.3l big boys, but never a 4bt. Looking to do normal truck stuff I guess and gain some mpgs as a daily driver. No dedicated towing but here and there. Recovery, will be doing OBA on the truck a bit of overland camping but not crawling.
Mountain Pass
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1986 F-150. Driven a handful of diesels from mechanical 1.6l VWs to 7.3l big boys, but never a 4bt. Looking to do normal truck stuff I guess and gain some mpgs as a daily driver. No dedicated towing but here and there. Recovery, will be doing OBA on the truck a bit of overland camping but not crawling.
All worked well. The EFI 300 was probably the most expensive to build and had the least power and about same MPG as 12 valve, but much slower when towing.
12 valve and NV4500 was really fun to drive. Truck weighed about 4500 and got it pretty good and easily got a solid 20 MPG regardless of what it was used for.
Mildly turned up 4BT and M5R2 5 speed also fun to drive and got killer MPG's as in 25 consistent tank after tank average, but the downer with 4BT's is idle time SUCKS. Sitting in traffic with a 4BT shaking away really wheres on you after years. Idling through the woods isn't too bad, but it will become an issue if you are ever going through stuff where you need a spotter. You cannot hear them.
If you want best all around cost VS result and highest resale value swap in a 12 valve with a 5 speed NV4500 or even a Getrag.
If you really want a 4BT do not use an auto. 4BT's suck with auto transmissions and people never seem to get this. Just believe me. You cannot make a perfect vehicle using an auto behind a 4BT. It will be a perpetual compromise. 4BT really needs a close ratio trans like the M5R2. They are a magic match made in heaven IME.
Hope this helps. I have done a few swaps. Like 40+
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I have done your exact truck with a 4BT in 2wd and 4x4, a 12 valve and hot rodded an EFI 300 six in one.
All worked well. The EFI 300 was probably the most expensive to build and had the least power and about same MPG as 12 valve, but much slower when towing.
12 valve and NV4500 was really fun to drive. Truck weighed about 4500 and got it pretty good and easily got a solid 20 MPG regardless of what it was used for.
Mildly turned up 4BT and M5R2 5 speed also fun to drive and got killer MPG's as in 25 consistent tank after tank average, but the downer with 4BT's is idle time SUCKS. Sitting in traffic with a 4BT shaking away really wheres on you after years. Idling through the woods isn't too bad, but it will become an issue if you are ever going through stuff where you need a spotter. You cannot hear them.
If you want best all around cost VS result and highest resale value swap in a 12 valve with a 5 speed NV4500 or even a Getrag.
If you really want a 4BT do not use an auto. 4BT's suck with auto transmissions and people never seem to get this. Just believe me. You cannot make a perfect vehicle using an auto behind a 4BT. It will be a perpetual compromise. 4BT really needs a close ratio trans like the M5R2. They are a magic match made in heaven IME.
Hope this helps. I have done a few swaps. Like 40+
All worked well. The EFI 300 was probably the most expensive to build and had the least power and about same MPG as 12 valve, but much slower when towing.
12 valve and NV4500 was really fun to drive. Truck weighed about 4500 and got it pretty good and easily got a solid 20 MPG regardless of what it was used for.
Mildly turned up 4BT and M5R2 5 speed also fun to drive and got killer MPG's as in 25 consistent tank after tank average, but the downer with 4BT's is idle time SUCKS. Sitting in traffic with a 4BT shaking away really wheres on you after years. Idling through the woods isn't too bad, but it will become an issue if you are ever going through stuff where you need a spotter. You cannot hear them.
If you want best all around cost VS result and highest resale value swap in a 12 valve with a 5 speed NV4500 or even a Getrag.
If you really want a 4BT do not use an auto. 4BT's suck with auto transmissions and people never seem to get this. Just believe me. You cannot make a perfect vehicle using an auto behind a 4BT. It will be a perpetual compromise. 4BT really needs a close ratio trans like the M5R2. They are a magic match made in heaven IME.
Hope this helps. I have done a few swaps. Like 40+
Is there no mount, balancer, or maybe heavier flywheel option to calm that bad boy down? Is it an idle issue from idling too low? Granted higher idle would lower your economy it may take a bit of the bite out.
Definitely glad to have you as a resource. I have an auto so probably going to stick with an auto trans.
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Sounds like the 4bt gets the mpgs but would suck as a daily driver with all that vibration.
Is there no mount, balancer, or maybe heavier flywheel option to calm that bad boy down? Is it an idle issue from idling too low? Granted higher idle would lower your economy it may take a bit of the bite out.
Definitely glad to have you as a resource. I have an auto so probably going to stick with an auto trans.
Is there no mount, balancer, or maybe heavier flywheel option to calm that bad boy down? Is it an idle issue from idling too low? Granted higher idle would lower your economy it may take a bit of the bite out.
Definitely glad to have you as a resource. I have an auto so probably going to stick with an auto trans.
To throw another wrench in the mix found a source of rebuilt, complete 7.3l IDI's for $2500+tax and shipping.
Bigger engines also mean beefing up the front end, then there is the 24v power to deal with as well.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 132
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Sounds like the 4bt gets the mpgs but would suck as a daily driver with all that vibration.
Is there no mount, balancer, or maybe heavier flywheel option to calm that bad boy down? Is it an idle issue from idling too low? Granted higher idle would lower your economy it may take a bit of the bite out.
Definitely glad to have you as a resource. I have an auto so probably going to stick with an auto trans.
Is there no mount, balancer, or maybe heavier flywheel option to calm that bad boy down? Is it an idle issue from idling too low? Granted higher idle would lower your economy it may take a bit of the bite out.
Definitely glad to have you as a resource. I have an auto so probably going to stick with an auto trans.
Idle speed helps, but doesn't solve it. It isn't terrible, but most people grow to hate it after the novelty wears off.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 132
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So you sound like someone who just thinks diesel is cool and, but budget is a key factor.
If you can flip flop from 4bt to IDI you must not have any kind of refined criteria or experience to base a decision on. IDI is not a terrible engine, but it has no virtues that make it worth the large effort and expense to swap.
Budget, diesel swap and auto transmission do not fit together. You can pick 2. Not all 3.