The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
9 - 11 Memorials

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
8 members (Gdads51, Otto Skorzeny, warlock, RoadsScholar, Ponchogl, 55shaker, k2handyman, 5 Window 9434), 104 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,048
Posts1,055,626
Members48,426
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#891871 10/24/2012 10:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 103
5
'Bolter
'Bolter
5 Offline
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 103
Whats the deal with these engines, Are they good for our trucks, horsepower, durability, torque? The seem compact enough to fit between the rails. What years were they produced and are they still in production?What would be a good trans to bolt up to?
Thanks
Chris

51chris #891961 10/25/2012 9:46 AM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,878
G
.
.
G Offline
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,878
All the info you could ever want about them, including and especialy swapping one into something else.
http://www.4btswaps.com

Depending on your needs for power thay can be and are great for our trucks. More power than the stock gas engine, peppy in a small truck but I'd say not a hot rod sort of thing in a BigBolt.

Grigg


1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
---All pictures---
"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-
51chris #891993 10/25/2012 10:58 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 667
T
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
T Offline
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 667
The 4BTSwap site is definitely the place to go. I'm installing a 4BTAA into my '46 Chevy school bus and it has been a terrific resource.

You'll be amazed at what you can do with that little motor. I'm building mine out as a high reliability, long range, high mpg cruiser. 130hp/335#'s of torque mated to an Allison six-speed auto with a "target" of something near 30mpg. Others have pumped that same little four banger up to over 800HP so it has an incredible range of potential. Just do some homework, decide what you want from it and build it out to what you need. The older, all mechanical (no computers)engines are getting a little harder to find these days, but are much easier to build out & maintain.

Like I said, dig in, read up and I think you'll find out pretty quickly if it fits your plans. Best of luck and keep us posted.


1946 1.5-Ton Chevy Shorty Bus
In the Stovebolt Gallery
Tango's 1946 Chevy "Skoolie" Project
All my best --- Tango
51chris #892029 10/25/2012 2:13 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 211
A
'Bolter
'Bolter
A Offline
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 211
Some bread/frito lay trucks use the 4BT/turbo 400 so you will have the option of useing GM trannies, As Tango said they are getting hard to come by.

51chris #892061 10/25/2012 4:41 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,597
W
Riding in the Passing Lane
Riding in the Passing Lane
W Offline
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,597
I used to service the Frito trucks with this engine. They are noisey, smokey, shakey & sluggish. They are stout though.


They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing.
1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne Super
In the Gallery Forum
51chris #892087 10/25/2012 7:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 52
P
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
P Offline
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 52
I have one in a 74 C20. I haven't put many miles on it yet as I just changed out the rearend to better suit the diesel. They are noisier than the 6bt, shaky as wrenchbender mentioned, and pretty poky in stock form (mine is the 105 hp version). They have mucho potential as Tango said. I hope to get high 20s fuel mileage on mine.


Moderated by  69Cuda, Super55 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0