KILLER FOUR-CYLINDER

BROWN’S DIESEL’S CRAZY 740-HP 4BT ‘32 FORD

- JASON SANDS

The legendary 5.9L Cummins little brother, the 4BT Cummins engine has long been maligned in the performance industry. After all, the engine is only 3.9L, how stout can it be? Well, we’re here to tell you the answer is: very stout. Richard Brown, of Brown’s Diesel in Riverdale, California often marches to the beat of a different drummer, so when it came time to replace the alcohol-burning 408ci Chevy in his 3-window coupe, he thought why not a diesel?

The problem was a 6BT (5.9L) Cummins was just all wrong for the application. It was too heavy and too big dimensionally, and ‘32 Fords aren’t exactly known for extra space. So, a 4BT Cummins got the call. Like many projects, Richard’s Ford took on a life of its own. Originally starting with a 263-hp turned up stocker, the 4BT moved the 2,900-pound coupe along pretty well. After a while though Richard kept modifying and turning up the coupe more and more, and eventually windowed the stock block. The next engine would be a full build.

BUILT UP 4BT