fuel efficient diesel cuda/challenger?

[The4ork]

just curious as to what other people think about this topic.

obviously its best to have one with a ton of HP and in general be bass add!

BUT not all of us can afford a 7mpg car, and i dunno about you guys but i'd like to drive mine every day!



so i was thinking... what if a hopped up cummins 4BT Turbo Diesel was installed.... pump turned up, upgraded turbo, intercooler, lots of boost.... with a TALL rear end (for running low rpm's, where the diesels like it)

now... I know its a 4cyl, and i know it wont make cool v8 noises, and yes its a diesel..... However, you can easily get the same power out of a 4bt as a v8

here is a good dyno chart of a modded 4bt


only question is, what trans can be used...

all in all i think it would be a good idea, set up correctly you could get 30mpg, i'd be happy with it hopped up and get mid 20's

[edl94]

For the money you would be better off buying a (TDI jetta 45 to 50 MPG) and switch with the cuda (7MPG) every other day. That would be around 25mpg avg. Or look for a /6 cuda good looking dependable and decent milage. If you really want to install a diesel I would stick to one that already has an automotive application. That way you can use an existing tranny and not need to fabricate alot of parts. You might check and see if the 6b engines used in dodge trucks and the 4bt have the same rear bolt pattern. The 6b and 4b are the same platform just minus 2 cylinders. If they are the same you can use a 6b bellhousing out of a dodge truck and bolt a 727 or 5 speed to it. I think the 4b engine is the same height as the 6b and may not fit under the hood.

[The4ork]

I know for a fact you can bolt a th400 to it

[Chryco Psycho]

My Cummins Dodge truck weighed 7200 lbs , the engine was 5.9 lt  & made 930 ft lbs of torque & 310 HP on the dyno 7 still averaged 27 MPG , put that in a light car !! Best of both worlds , more power + wicked milage 
 The BT4 is awesome too just very tall , you would need a dry sump oiling system & it is the same as the 5.9 with 2 cylinders removed & will make a ton of power & last forever taken care of !

[torredcuda]

A lot of work to install a diesel,why not just go with a new Hemi-they get 14-20 mpg in the new Ram which is much heavier?

[brads70]

or what about improving the combo you have now? I'm getting 17 MPG's on my new 451/OD auto tranny combo. I wasn't trying to build the engine for fuel economy either. I'm sure with some well thought out parts selection someone could easily do better?

[The4ork]

It's not a serious thought, I wouldn't want to cut into a classic like a Cuda, but maybe a demon or duster would be cool. Or an old 30's hot rod truck

[Chryco Psycho]

I was seriously looking into doing the Charger I have but the frame would have to be modified extensively to take the torque & not sure what to use for a trans , trucks are more forgiving for the mod but you can buy them

[grimmey71]

It's not a serious thought, I wouldn't want to cut into a classic like a Cuda, but maybe a demon or duster would be cool. Or an old 30's hot rod truck

http://www.legacypowerwagon.com/Legacy-Power-Wagon-4-Door_p_13.html

All sorts of badassery right there

[GranCuda1970]

I just saur a Mopar Allison transmission on craigslist, gonna need one!!Them turbo deisels can crank out the Torque #'s.

[HP2]

While oil burners can be built for tremendous mileage, the conversion work required to actually put one in a car would be huge and really detract, IMO, from its appeal and value. They are large, heavy engines that would quickly exploit any shortcoming in the recipient vehicle's structure and suspension.

Like Brads70 said, I have had 440s that have been in the upper teens for mileage without efi or OD transmissions in large, heav,y truck applications.Gas engines can be built to be very mileage capable while producing high power levels.  It does require close attention to detail and a good combination of parts and can't simply be slapped together.

[sprecks]

here you go. 5.9 twin turbo

[HP2]

Uhh, yeah.  I don't care how much power it puts down, I'd really rather not drive that. Ask them how it goes around corners.

[sprecks]

Uhh, yeah.  I don't care how much power it puts down, I'd really rather not drive that. Ask them how it goes around corners.

I have to agree with you. I doubt if I'd drive it either. The point is the cummins diesel doesn't fit very good into an e-body.

[The4ork]

I have to agree with you. I doubt if I'd drive it either. The point is the cummins diesel doesn't fit very good into an e-body.

the cummins i was talking about in the original post was the 4bt, wich is the inline 4 varient of the standard cummins 6