Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) cracked blocks

[streetglide]

hi guys did some looking and not sure if im doing it right looking to find info on the cracked block problems like what year they were and where they are cracking at thanks alot

 

[dclassens]

Search under "53" blocks

 

[HBarlow]

53 blocks were reportedly installed in some Ram 24 valve engines around 1999, 2000, and 2001. You'll have to crawl under a truck and look at the lower driver's side of the block under the ECM. If it has the large "53" in the casting, it could crack but not all do.

 

[Dieseldemon]

The 53 block was first manif in 1997 and came in the 98 12v and 98 24v engines I have never seen a 12v block crack in the area that the 53 block cracks and all the ones that I have seen have been the 24v 6spd

 

[jhoughton]

As stated some do some don't. My 99 24v cracked before all the upgrades were done to the engine. Truck originally had a 5 speed transmission. It was right about 69k if I remember correctly. I pulled it and replaced with a new block I purchased off e bay. All internal parts were purchased from Cummins. Total cost for parts was about $2100. 00 and two weeks working only after work and weekends as time allowed. Has been no issues at all since.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Mine's a 53

Well... finally looked under my truck today... And my ambulance partners truck too... . And guess what... We BOTH have 53 blocks. I have 252k miles, he has 180k. I've just recently started doing upgrades to mine including an ats stage 2, 275 injectors, edge ez, boost elbow. Anything I can do to hopefully prevent the block from cracking? Or should I just drive it like i always have and cross that bridge if or when I get to it?

Thanks

Craig

 

[Cowboy]

drive it like it belongs to your ex wife, then, if it starts leaking, you can look for a replacement block, just like you do with ex's

 

[firefighter_2000]

Which

Well, suppose it DOES end up cracking... Is it better to do a new block... or would it be just as well to do the lock n stitch? I could be on the lookout for a new block now if that is the better way to go.

Craig

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Some have tried lok'n stitch with some success.

Diesel Freak on NW Bombers had his 55 block crack, his was an '01 HO 6sp and had about 200k. . . heavily BOMB'd too.

 

[hbowers]

we have an 02 block that needs rebored. it had three burnt pistons. I replaced it w/awrecking yard complete engine. I have the complete engine if anyone is interested.

 

[drag racer]

Well... finally looked under my truck today... Anything I can do to hopefully prevent the block from cracking? Or should I just drive it like i always have and cross that bridge if or when I get to it?
Thanks
Craig

NO, YES, and YES

 

[odieub]

got a 97 12v block at the house no crack and parted a 98 12v with 675k and no crack only herd of one 12v with a storm block that cracked but it is the same block as the 24v just the difference in the injection systems . must be the pressures or harmonics of the motor????

 

[EricBu12]

My 2001 had a 53 block and it cracked and I think it did it after I did a hot tow to Monument valley... I had the power upgrades and such. . didn't have a problem til I got it pretty hot on that trip and it did a crack. .



Tried to do the Lock-n-stitch and it didn't work. . one other guy did it and it worked til he towed with it and it cracked 3" away from the first crack... so it doesnt matter.



If you have 200K and no leak then you are lucky. . I think the the thing that makes it leak is if you tow and get it real hot like over 210-220. . the engine is trying to pull itself apart due to heat expansion... . otherwise it might last all the life.



Here is a few pics of my crack and a cross section of the metal thickness when I replaced the block. (I had a souvenier made. . Paperweight... . You see a pic of the process of the lock-n-stitch and the final pic with JB-Weld. . all didn't work. . Had to get a new block

 

[Cowboy]

cummins motors just keep on working, even when they are cut up and laying on a cofee table, they are still serving a purpose.

 

[Cowboy]

has anyone ever cut a GOOD block open to see what the casting looks like from the inside? (I meant a block that is broken elsewhere, or otherwise unusable,) I probably would have gotten a lot of questions about my sanity if I hadn't clarified that.

 

[EricBu12]

Look at my post above. . See the cross-section of the block where the souvenir was taken?. . Also. The small piece is showing the inside of the block. .

Or are you asking for comparison cut up on a non 53 block? Yeah that would be interesting . . I have heard the 53 block has only 5. 5mm thick like in my photo. . A good one is supposed to be 11mm thick

 

[EricBu12]

Look at my post above. . See the cross-section of the block where the souvenir was taken?. . Also. The small piece is showing the inside of the block. .



Or are you asking for comparison cut up on a non 53 block? Yeah that would be interesting . . I have heard the 53 block has only 5. 5mm thick like in my photo. . A good one is supposed to be 11mm thick

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

The main issue too is the foundry that cast the bad 53 blocks missed the water jacket stiffening ribs that were supposed to go in there. Not all 53 blocks came from the same foundry, the other foundy did cast in the stiffening ribs.



Cummins in their analysis stated the chances of a bad block cracking are pretty proportional to how much power the engine is putting out . . . the harder it's used the more stress is put on the block causing the crack.

 

[streetglide]

53 blocks

i looked at my block and i cant find no 53 marks all i can find is a series of numbers in that location so im in good shape does that series of numbers tell me anything like where the block was casted

 

[Ram4Sam]

Maybe one of the OG's here on the TDR will remember. Didn't HVAC's Red Rocket have one of the 53 blocks that never cracked. I can't imagine any Cummins ever made that was run harder than his.



Sam