Fj60 Diesel Engines

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I will be towing snowmobiles to and from Canada through Vermont with all of the mountains. With personal experience, the trailer that I will be towing, which is a two-snowmobile inclosed weighing in at around 1500 lbs unloaded, needs at least 250 hp and around 300 or 350 lb/ft of torque to tow comfortably. Comfortably is around 70 or 75 mph while staying around 2500 or less rpm for good gas mileage. Believe me, that much power is necessary.

I am not trying to put down your motor in any way, I apologise. I was just stating my preference of six cylinders. How much power does your 4BT put out? The 6BT?

Not dreamer, but realistic. My uncle's 325 hp Suburban pulls the trailer just about right, so I am not kidding. His last Suburban had around 200 hp, plus or minus 25, and that was horrible at towing. I know what I need for this.

:beer:
 
Hey, no offence but I think you might be over reacting. I have pulled car trailers with all kinds of difference vehicles on them. Most times the combo weighed more than 5000lbs. You can easily pull that with a 200hp chebby 350. We arent talking any 350ft pnds of torque either.

I understand wanting more than less. It would be way easier putting in a fuel injected 350.

You also dont need to be going 75mph with loaded trailer behind you either Mr..


TB
 
GLTHFJ60 said:
I will be towing snowmobiles to and from Canada through Vermont with all of the mountains. With personal experience, the trailer that I will be towing, which is a two-snowmobile inclosed weighing in at around 1500 lbs unloaded, needs at least 250 hp and around 300 or 350 lb/ft of torque to tow comfortably. Comfortably is around 70 or 75 mph while staying around 2500 or less rpm for good gas mileage. Believe me, that much power is necessary.

I am not trying to put down your motor in any way, I apologise. I was just stating my preference of six cylinders. How much power does your 4BT put out? The 6BT?

Not dreamer, but realistic. My uncle's 325 hp Suburban pulls the trailer just about right, so I am not kidding. His last Suburban had around 200 hp, plus or minus 25, and that was horrible at towing. I know what I need for this.

:beer:
Click to expand...

You're comparing apples to oranges here. A 125 hp inline four cylinder direct injection turbo diesel making 330 ft-lbs of torque will pull your trailer much better than you think it will, unless you put it in some fatass suburban (that's what 6bts are for). Add propane and it'll really go.

It's all about torque, not that sissy gasoline making wimpy horsepower. Get a later model 4BT with the P7100 pump if you're not satisfied with the factory power settings with the older Bosch VE pump. Turn up the boost and fuel, and you'll have 250hp and 700ft-lbs at your disposal, all at the expense of noise, mileage, and driveability.

If you're still not satisfied, put a 12valve cummins in something, then you can do this with ricers while towing your trailer:
http://www.dieselinnovations.com/videos/maddog_lasvegas_run.wmv

Or ignore all the crap and ask to take a ride in someone's 4BT truck. If you don't like it, diesel might not be for you.
 
I wonder what the split case TC can take?

400-450 lb-ft? Would have to be careful in first gear or with an auto...especially towing.

Makes me think to reliable anything more than a stock 6.5 turbo or 1HD would need some other serious TC/axle upgrades...right?
 
The split case is very strong. The rear axle is equivilent to, or stronger than, a Dana 60. Never a good plan to stuff your foot into it. The only Tcase I ever had break was one that the mechanic failed to fill with oil.

M
 
I've heard the axles are almost 60 strength but the 3FE puts out 220 lbs...A stock 6.5 turbo is 420-430 lbs and one that is turned up is over 500. Add tall tires and I wonder where the weak link is.

...so if you wanted a stronger case wouldn't you have to go to a center output like a NP205?

BTW - I have at least another 60-80k (or $10,000 in gas :( ) to go before I can really think about this stuff, but it's fun to talk about.
 
I did not realize that the 4BT made that much power. I am all for power-to-weight ratios, so if I can get the same power out of a 4BT as a 6BT but with a ligter truck and a easier installation, then I am all in. Tell me more.

Can you add a manual transmission to a 4BT? It is necessary for me to have a standard truck, absolutely necessary. Also, can you use the split case TC with the 4BT setup? That would be helpful so that I do not have to change out the axles as well.

I know that I seem crazy, but a stock small-block chevy TBI will not work. The mountains of vermont are not kind. Going 70 or 75 mph is necessary to make the trip to Canada exactly eight hours. Any slower, and I would die on the way there.

I am right by Albany NY. An hour from Bennington on which highway?


:beer:


BTW, the engines that I am referring to are in Suburbans, just for reference.
 
That clip was AWESOME!!! I love it when ricers get their nuts shoved down their throat. What engine did the truck have in it?

:beer:
 
You need to do more research. Check out my post called "The Fritota is Alive"

Yes, you can put a manual behind a 4BT. I have one with a NV4500. You will want a tranny with an Over Drive.

Good Luck and welcome to the dark side.
 
That is a cool story that you have there. Do you tow with your rig?
 
I also forgot that the massive amounts of power are for being able to cruise for eigt hours and still get decent fuel mileage. Power is required to keep the RPM's below 3000.

:beer:
 
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