The Cummins B Series is a family of straight-4 and straight-6 diesel truck and industrial piston engines. The B Series is known for displacing "one liter per cylinder" because of the popular 3.9 L straight-4 and 5.9 L straight-6. A 3.3 L straight-4 is also available. The B Series is widely used in many segments, including pickup trucks (the Dodge Ram), buses, military vehicles, construction equipment, and marine.
The engine was originally designed by Cummins and Case Corporation for commercial truck applications, and appeared in a light-duty truck, the Dodge Ram, in 1989. This was not the first engine to appear in Dodges as a Diesel option. Mid-70's D models offered the rare, underpowered, Mitsubishi non-turbo diesel. Every Cummins powered Dodge Pickup (since initial production in 1989) has come equipped with a turbocharger. It uses a gear-drive camshaft for extra reliability. Also specified is a deep-skirt engine block and extremely strong connecting rods. A Holset turbocharger is used.
The original B Series was updated with 24 valves and an electronic engine management system to become the ISB in 1998.
For the 2003 model year, the Cummins was introduced with Bosch high pressure common rail fuel injection, again increasing power output. Midway through the 2004 model year, the Cummins 600 was introduced, producing 325 hp (242 kW) at 2900 rpm and 600 ft·lbf (813 Nm)at 1600 rpm. This high torque output gives the engine its name, and also offers a high specific output of 102 ft·lbf (138 Nm) per liter of displacement (1.67 ft·lbf/CID)
Midway through model year 1998, the engine which would now be known as the ISB, was redesigned as a 24 valve model to meet updated emissions requirements and introduced the Bosch VP44 rotary injection pump (featuring electronic control) to the Dodge application. It produced 235 hp (175 kW) at 2700 rpm and 460 ft·lbf (625 Nm) from 1600 rpm to 2700 rpm when paired with a manual transmission, but was slightly downrated when used with automatics.
In 2001, an optional high output (HO) version of the ISB was introduced, producing 245 hp (183 kW) at 2700 rpm and 505 ft·lbf (686 Nm) from 1600 rpm to 2700 rpm when paired with a heavy duty six-speed transmission, the NV5600. The ISB from previous years remained available, and automatic-equipped engines were now rated the same as manuals.
Bosch model P7100 inline-style injection pump - The '94-'98 Cummins 5.9L engine has been the mainstay of diesel power in Dodge trucks, and has a reputation as an excellent performer with the ability to make some serious horsepower. One of this engine's features that makes it so desirable is the Bosch P7100 inline mechanical injection pump. This injection pump, often called a "P-pump," is the Holley Four-barrel carburetor of the diesel world. The P7100 pump has been around forever, is practically bulletproof, and is very tunable for high performance. There have been several versions of the 5.9 L ISB featured in the Dodge Ram.
The BT 5.9 was first introduced to Dodge Rams in 1989. The Cummins engine in 1991.5 got an intercooler. In 1994, the engine changed over to a Bosch model P7100 inline-style injection pump from the previous Bosch VE series rotary pump.
"From 1989-1993 The injection pumps were the BOSH VE." - The 6BT 5.9 L B5.9 aka the Cummins "12-Valve" was the first member of the "B" engine family to be used in a light truck vehicle. This engine started life in 1984 as an agricultural engine, for use in Case agricultural equipment by a joint venture between Cummins Engine Corp. and Case called Consolidated Diesel Corp. Appearing in the 1989-1998.5 Dodge Ram pickup truck, it quickly became a popular alternative to the large V8 gasoline engines normally used in full-size pickup trucks, while producing nearly double the torque at low engine speeds. Another distinct advantage for the diesel is extremely efficient fuel mileage(also nearly double the gasser).
