Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) "53" Block,,,cracked????`

[RMcNee]

Ok all i have heard and read about is these 53 blocks... where do I find this # at?? I have looked all over my engine and can't find anything... heres why I'm asking... . ever had one of them days that just seem to get worse by the minute ... Well mine was today. . call the local bearing and seals shop to get a rear pinion seal for my 99 2500 with a 5 speed... . yes its a dana 80... tell the guy this... yep i got it... so go get it on the other side of town... then back out to the AF base so i can use the hobby shop... . 6. oo an hour for a lift... so get it all apart finally... it is a 99... and I have the wrong seal... thank god I hadn't pulled the old one yet... so call them up and yepper there is 2 available. . and one is for the HD dana 80... . daaaaa... . so can they bring one out... . NOPE can't do that... . Now I'm ******... so put it all back together drive across town to swap them out... of course i'm drivin hard... cause i'm still ******... . so get back to the shop get her lifted up pull the pinion, happen to look at the ground up front and low and behold theres a nice puddle of antifreeze :--) Now what... so i imediatily grab the light and start lookin... cant find anything... . just dripping off the bell housing... so wipe it up... finish the seal change... like 15 mins or so and theres just one or 2 drops on the ground then... so back out of the stall and leave it running... clean up is 10 or 15 mins... . go to leave and no water on the ground???? temp is a constant 190 with a winter front on... she has 138k on it... . when i first looked up at the engine it looked like the last freeze plug was wet. . but looked later and couldnt tell..... so if I'm lookin for a crack where do I look... and where do i find out if this is a 53 block..... help me out here... only had the truck 2 months. . and already put to much $ into it... LOL... thanks for any info... .

 

[moparguy]

Look at the block under/behind the injection pump, power steering pump area. If a 53, it'll be in big letters, about 3" or so high.



The common place for failure is just below the exhause manafold in the #5 cyl. area.



Good luck, RJR

 

[macdaddy]

RM

The "53" is in numbers around 1" located just above where the oil pan mates up to the block on the drivers side towards the front of the block under the VP-44 pump (inj pump). On the trucks with auto's the "53" will be right where the trans aux oil cooler return lines where they are routed along the block going back to the transmission, but since you have a 5 speed just start looking along the oil pan mating surface from the front to the rear towards the bell housing (driver side).



As far as the leak. It will develop just under the exhaust manifold towards the firewall near the the rear freeze plug on the passenger side of the block. On the trucks with auto's it will be right above the coolant to oil trans cooler.



Good Luck

Mac

 

[RMcNee]

well i didnt see a 53 anywhere... and as for the leak on the passenger side it is dry... it looked like it was wet up high on the last freeze plug on the drivers side... so maybe its just a hose or something up top leaking... it was dripping off the bell housing... guess i'll get into it more tomorrow. . thanks for the info though. . i'll look more for the 53 #'s also.....

 

[Alphacowboy]

could it be just a leaky frost plug?

 

[RMcNee]

Ok... after hauling boats all day for the local boat show this weekend. . i've come up with this... first thing this morning. . checked my overflow tank. . it was low... so added to the full mark... took one boat down,and looked under it... leaking... grrr... so stop at a store and pick up some of the stop leak. . like the powder stuff... in like a roll of quarters holder... dump that in... well head back to the base to use a lift at around 3... well no leaks now???? or very little... . and i DO NOT have a 53 block... and there is no cracks. . what i did see is looking from the passenger side... ( i have a 5 speed) i could see the head and block mating surface at the back of the engine... looks to be wet... . also the last freeze plug is wet on the drivers side... . so??? blown head gasket or leaking freeze plug... . `138k on her??? guess i'll watch the level in the tank see if it starts goin down?? thanks for all the info... .

 

[tractorface]

A rare 99 without a 53. Congradulations :-laf

 

[Holzarbeiter]

use an inspection mirror and see if you have a freeze plug in the back of the head.

 

[b.ferrara]

what year trucks are these #53 blocks in? thanks Bill