Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 2001 cracked block

[Pit Bull]

Just wondering, do the 03's have numbers?

 

[Chipstien]

LOL Taco block. Now we need a good name for the brazilian block. Any good ones?

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Chipstien

LOL Taco block. Now we need a good name for the brazilian block. Any good ones?

How about "Cracked"

 

[Jvann]

Use a mirror

Y'all might want to try a mirror and flashlight to check your block. I tried with just a light and couldn't find anything. Got a mirror and was able to find my 53 partially hidden by the wire loom. Lucky me! What now. Trade it or don't worry about it.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

closet member of the 53 club?

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Brazilian Tupys always seem to outnumber Mexican blocks during the ISB's production probably about 8 to 1.

My 3500 01 rolled off the production line in St. Louis around the end of January 2000 and having just read this thread (several times, just to make sure I did not overlook something), I have to ask this question..... Is there anything equivalent and noteworthy on this subject to state, regarding the St. Louis production line trucks? IOW, could I be a closet member of the 53 club and not realise it?



I will check for the hyroglyphics on the block beneath the VP later - there's too much snow outside and the overnight temp in Austria was 7 deg F :{

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: closet member of the 53 club?

Originally posted by JohnMcIntyre





My 3500 01 rolled off the production line in St. Louis around the end of January 2000 and having just read this thread (several times, just to make sure I did not overlook something), I have to ask this question..... Is there anything equivalent and noteworthy on this subject to state, regarding the St. Louis production line trucks? IOW, could I be a closet member of the 53 club and not realise it?



I will check for the hyroglyphics on the block beneath the VP later - there's too much snow outside and the overnight temp in Austria was 7 deg F :{

John, my 2000 was made in St. Louis and it had a Mexican block. It does not make any difference where the truck was built.

 

[dresslered]

John-

My truck must have been right behind yours on the production line! I've got the big "53" stamped on both sides but I am not going to loose any sleep over it.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Re: # 53

Originally posted by E Waagener

I went to check today and all I said was ah S##T. The build month was in march 2K. So where would be the most likly place to crack?Thanx Eric

If anyone can cause a 53 block to crack, it would be you Eric



Vaughn

 

[maint.man]

Can anyone explain to me why some of the 53' blocks have the 53 on both sides and some don't ? Mine only has it casted in the drivers side . They are the big bold numbers , but the other side is bare.

 

[Speedo]

53 blocks

I used to have a "53" block in my '99 but I don't anymore. I could

smell anti-freeze for about a week but I could never find any leaks

then I was pulling a 4 place snowmachine trailer and carrying a

slide in camper in the mountains and all of a sudden the heater

started blowing cool air but the temp gauge hadn't started to

climb yet. I got it pulled over and started checking and I finally

found out where it was leaking from, the R/H side of the block,

right under the transmission heat exchanger had a crack about 6 inches

long and coolant was pouring out. I loosened the radiator cap

and added enough coolant, luckily I had some with me, to get me

to the next lodge. Spent the night in the camper and bought 4

gallons from lodge and drove it back home that day. Monday I

was in at the dealer and was expecting the worst and they told

me that they had seen it happen a couple of times already and I

would be getting a new short block. It took a bit of time to get my

truck back but now I had a truck with 92,000 miles and a brand

new short block so it wasn't all bad. That and the fact that I no

longer had a "53" block to worry about.



Gus

 

[dresslered]

Can anyone explain to me why some of the 53' blocks have the 53 on both sides and some don't ?

maint. man I would like to see the answer to that question as well. I have mine stamped big and bold on both sides. My truck came out of St. Louis around February, 2000.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Originally posted by dresslered

maint. man I would like to see the answer to that question as well. I have mine stamped big and bold on both sides. My truck came out of St. Louis around February, 2000.

Don't suppose you took any pictures when you were under the front end David - It's a bit warmer in your part of the world?

 

[dresslered]

I'll take some this weekend John. I'm assuming you mean of the "53" as I don't have a crack yet.

 

[mediccummin]

pictures

I posted some pics a couple pages back, they are kind of close cause it was hard to see from further away. They are of the 53 on both sides of block and the smaller series of numbers above the 53.

 

[maint.man]

Any one got an idea why one has the numbers on both sides while another doesn't ?

 

[Big White Beast]

Here is a clear pic.......

This one was on a pallet. No not cracked, had a burnt out #6 cylinder. Good opporunity to get a shot of the 53 though. And this one was only on the drivers side too.



Garrett



#ad

 

[Pit Bull]

Garrett

Great picture that should help many that can't find theirs.

 

[RBerry]

Big White Beast,



Thanks for that picture. That place where your 53 is, is just flat with no numbers on my 98. 5. I must have a Mexican engine.

 

[Mr. Brewski]

I'll bet the guys over at thedieselstop.com and dieselpage.com are really having a good laugh at this thread... 7 pages of hand wringing... :{ :{



53 block or not - we've got nothing to complain about - ya coulda boughta new Powestroker 6. 0... .



Even if the 53 blocks crack a little more often than the Mexican or 55 blocks, they're still the best !!

 

[duaneparks]

Originally posted by Mr. Brewski

I'll bet the guys over at thedieselstop.com and dieselpage.com are really having a good laugh at this thread... 7 pages of hand wringing... :{ :{



53 block or not - we've got nothing to complain about - ya coulda boughta new Powestroker 6. 0... .



Even if the 53 blocks crack a little more often than the Mexican or 55 blocks, they're still the best !!

No kidding. Between this and the lift pump threads any Ferd or Chebbie loyalist would have plenty of things to talk about.



I have a "53" block and am not worried at all. If this thing cracks or whatever, it'll get replaced (maybe even with a used 12V engine)... then all my worries will be over... right? Well, at least until I lose the 5th gear nut, or my track bar wears out, or my intermediate steering shaft goes south, or...



WE DRIVE THE BEST DARN VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I love my truck and I'll engineer out all the "Dodge" parts that fail and maybe even a couple of Cummins things... *if* they fail. Until then, my face hurts from grinning so hard when I'm driving my truck.



Duane