Posted by Charlie on June 30, 2000 at 06:02:18:
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They are advertising "good running takeout from bread trucks" Cummins 4BTA3.9s, 105 hp, about 300 ft-lb, with Chevy 4spd (probably SM465) for $3000. I don't know who or where. Incidentally, the 4BTA3.9 is rated up to 250 hp for marine applications, I'd guess about 550-600 ft-lb. Wow! That would require major intercooling among other things. I think 180-200 hp and 440 ft-lb is feasible with normal air-to-air intercooling and automotive manifolds. Really tempting if I knew where to look at them. If I were near them I'd try to pick up a good one and get a Ranger overdrive ($1400, 0.73:1 ratio, bolt-in in front of SM465, only 7", transfer case probably can stay put) and run 9.00-11.00R16s. If one went the power route then 40s or even bigger would be OK. Even with NDs top speed would be 70 but economy would suffer with rpms too close to peak hp. Best economy is as close to peak torque as possible on the high side of the peak (16-1800 rpm if the torque and hp are there to govern out in highest gear).
Charlie