So I am in the very early planning stages to swap the gas V8 in my early 90's Ford pickup to a 4bt Cummins. Something that really excites me about this possible swap is that, from what I read on here, the engine could be an actual bolt in installation using factory Ford and Cummins hardware. That is possible using the Ford 300 inline six cylinder gas mounts that used the rubber isolators (not liquid filled). Then the breadvan 45 degree engine block mounts and dodge rubber isolators. All hashed out many times over and detailed in this helpful thread. Conflicting 300 6 Frame Stand with Ford 4BT Block Mounts Compatibility Issue
The next thing I wanted to figure out was how to maintain all the creature comforts that are available with the current gas V8, namely air conditioning. As is widely known on this site, the stock dodge 6bt setup mounts the A/C compressor way down low on the passenger side of the engine. This would pose two problems in the install in 80's and early 90's Ford pickups. 1) the compressor or lines would get into the engine crossmember and 2) this would not allow the use of the breadvan 45 degree engine block front mounts and 300-6 frame stands for a bolt in install.
To conquer the first problem there is plenty of info around the site about using the "high-mount A/C" water inlet setup seen on early 90's F800 trucks and the freighliner setup which ran 5.9L cummins engines. This bracket raises the A/C compressor above the water inlet and also raises the alternator. There is a good example of this bracket in the following thread. a/c bracket.
While the above "high mount water inlet" would solve the first problem, it would negate the possibility of using the 45 breadvan engine block mounts and Ford 300-6 45 degree frame stands for a bolt in install. This is because this alternative water inlet bracket uses the bottom three front engine block mount bolt holes to hold it to the block. Now, it appears from this post that it is possible to mill down that reinforcing rib going from the water inlet flange to the lower mounting area and still be able to bolt up the bread van 45 degree engine block mounts. Then there is also this post which the author states that he milled down the bottom section of the bracket to still use the 45 degree bread van front mounts.
Both of the above examples solve the first problem and solve the second problem, albeit with modification to the water inlet bracket (possibly detrimental to durability??) I think I have stumbled on a solution that would solve both challenges with no modifications to any brackets or mounting points. I spied a Hyster forklift with an installed QSB6.7 while working on a job site that appeared to have provisions for mounting an A/C compressor in an "extra high" configuration. See the attached photo for explanation. This bracket mounts the alternator in what appears to be the "stock" location and mounts the A/C compressor above it, all on the same bracket. More-over, from what I could tell, this bracket did not utilize the front lower three engine mount holes that will be used by the breadvan 45 degree engine mount plates (see second picture). I was cognizant enough while taking these pictures to grab the ESN from the engine so this bracket part number (and supporting hardware) could be located on Cummins quickserve. This ESN is 22023207. The bracket part number is 5260168. In quickserve, it specifies that this setup accepts a 24Si alternator. I also measured the mounting points for what I suspect is the compressor stand-off's and came up with a top mount spacing of 92mm, bottom mount spacing of 87mm, and vertical mount spacing of 128mm. This mounting corresponds to the compressor mounting mentioned in this post. The only unknown is if this new extra high A/C mount bracket has the same gauge line measurement as does the F800/freightliner brackets for proper belt alignment.
So, any thoughts on this? Think this bracket will work on the 4bt? Anyone have a good way to get a price on this bracket without driving down to the local Cummins dealer?
The next thing I wanted to figure out was how to maintain all the creature comforts that are available with the current gas V8, namely air conditioning. As is widely known on this site, the stock dodge 6bt setup mounts the A/C compressor way down low on the passenger side of the engine. This would pose two problems in the install in 80's and early 90's Ford pickups. 1) the compressor or lines would get into the engine crossmember and 2) this would not allow the use of the breadvan 45 degree engine block front mounts and 300-6 frame stands for a bolt in install.
To conquer the first problem there is plenty of info around the site about using the "high-mount A/C" water inlet setup seen on early 90's F800 trucks and the freighliner setup which ran 5.9L cummins engines. This bracket raises the A/C compressor above the water inlet and also raises the alternator. There is a good example of this bracket in the following thread. a/c bracket.
While the above "high mount water inlet" would solve the first problem, it would negate the possibility of using the 45 breadvan engine block mounts and Ford 300-6 45 degree frame stands for a bolt in install. This is because this alternative water inlet bracket uses the bottom three front engine block mount bolt holes to hold it to the block. Now, it appears from this post that it is possible to mill down that reinforcing rib going from the water inlet flange to the lower mounting area and still be able to bolt up the bread van 45 degree engine block mounts. Then there is also this post which the author states that he milled down the bottom section of the bracket to still use the 45 degree bread van front mounts.
Both of the above examples solve the first problem and solve the second problem, albeit with modification to the water inlet bracket (possibly detrimental to durability??) I think I have stumbled on a solution that would solve both challenges with no modifications to any brackets or mounting points. I spied a Hyster forklift with an installed QSB6.7 while working on a job site that appeared to have provisions for mounting an A/C compressor in an "extra high" configuration. See the attached photo for explanation. This bracket mounts the alternator in what appears to be the "stock" location and mounts the A/C compressor above it, all on the same bracket. More-over, from what I could tell, this bracket did not utilize the front lower three engine mount holes that will be used by the breadvan 45 degree engine mount plates (see second picture). I was cognizant enough while taking these pictures to grab the ESN from the engine so this bracket part number (and supporting hardware) could be located on Cummins quickserve. This ESN is 22023207. The bracket part number is 5260168. In quickserve, it specifies that this setup accepts a 24Si alternator. I also measured the mounting points for what I suspect is the compressor stand-off's and came up with a top mount spacing of 92mm, bottom mount spacing of 87mm, and vertical mount spacing of 128mm. This mounting corresponds to the compressor mounting mentioned in this post. The only unknown is if this new extra high A/C mount bracket has the same gauge line measurement as does the F800/freightliner brackets for proper belt alignment.
So, any thoughts on this? Think this bracket will work on the 4bt? Anyone have a good way to get a price on this bracket without driving down to the local Cummins dealer?