53 block?

[BManier]

Hey guys I'm looking at a few 3rd gens for a swap I'm doing and I was wondering what is up with the "53" blocks. Is that the starting number in the engine numbe,r reference number, or where? Also what is the problem with them, or is this even a problem in an 03 and 04?

 

[HBarlow]

I think the 53 casting only showed up in some early 24 valves, '99 through '01.



Harvey

 

[bmoeller]

What HB said.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I had one in a 98. 5 24 valve. No problems in 175k miles.

 

[HeavyHauler]

A friend of mine just bought a '98 12 valve engine that is a 53 block (without knowing it). First one I had ever heard of.

 

[HBarlow]

A friend of mine just bought a '98 12 valve engine that is a 53 block (without knowing it). First one I had ever heard of.

That's interesting. I had never heard that either. Before you wrote that I would have bet someone that all 53 castings were 24 valve. Does that mean we can assume that the block is interchangeable between late 12 valves and early 24 valves?



Harvey

 

[EMD-Run8]

Do a search on "53 block" and you'll find out all you need to know. 3gen blocks are not an issue as they had to be beefed up even more than the late 24V blocks for the new common rail injection. No worries.

 

[HeavyHauler]

That's interesting. I had never heard that either. Before you wrote that I would have bet someone that all 53 castings were 24 valve. Does that mean we can assume that the block is interchangeable between late 12 valves and early 24 valves?



Harvey

I am told that all '94 - '02 blocks are completely interchangable. I've got a stripped '02 block on the stand right now and there certainly aren't any visible differences from the "fully dressed" '98 12V that's on the floor.



I'm like you - I would have bet that all 53 blocks were 24 valve motors until last week. I was so certain that I didn't even bother looking on the side of that 12V block before he bought it.



But now that I think really hard about it - do I remember someone saying that Jim Fulmer has a 53 block?

 

[Signal73]

There are quite a few 53 block 12V's out there, there has never been a reported failure of one on this site however.

General consensus is the 24V has different harmonics which cause the water jacket crack.

 

[jwilliams3]

I know of at least one member here with a 53 block in a 12 valve and it cracked... .

 

[Signal73]

Ill take a side of potatoes with my crow. :{

 

[BManier]

thanks guys I was just makeing sure I didn't by a block that would crack in a month.

 

[John Robinson]

We are curentley replaceing a 53 block, With a "TACO" BLOCK. " We dont see that many bad 53 blocks unless they were run hot or ran hard. I wouldnt worry too much. The worst that could happen is you would have to spend a little $$. "ITS ONLY MONEY" :-laf