Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Got the 53 crack....

[EricBu12]

Awhile back I looked and saw I had the 53 block (damn!!) and then looked for any cracking and it wasn't then... . but it is now... . I lose some coolant but it is not bad. My bottle gets low after some time so I guess I caught it early



I have what looks to be a 3-4" crack on the pass side.



SOOOOO, I need to do that Lock-n-Stitch to fix it I guess, unless someone has any newer more fangled way to fix it... .



Does anyone know of a shop that can do this repair or has done this repair in the Salt Lake City area?

 

[BPINE]

Eric, Cliffman just did the Lock-Stitch repair to his 01 and it worked great. It is something you can do yourself but make sure you tap with a power tapper not by hand. Cliff used a 9. 6 volt drill that had a flex handle so he could get in there to drill and tap. He has twins but got in there without removing them and made the repair.

 

[Cliffman]

Hey Eric,



If the crack is only 3 to 4 inches I would suggest stop driving your truck now! Order the kit from www.locknstitch.com. (209-632-1740) and fix it your self. I've been meaning to post in more detail on this subject but haven't had time. Let me know if want more detailed info and I'll be glad to help you out.



Cliff

 

[EricBu12]

Cliffman, any help you can give me would be very well appreciated!! Is it really tempermental to do it "Just" right or you might screw it up? I read that the countersink has to be square and "right" or it will bind



I have a craftsman 19. 2 volt 90 deg angle drill that should work... I guess if I get the front end up good, I can do it from underneath, right?



Was the kit like $285 ? If it is pretty easy to do, then I guess I can do it.

 

[EricBu12]

I need to drive my truck but I only drive it once or twice a week as I drive big rig for a living... .



Also some of my drive is downhill and city streets so most of the time I am slow and idleing (coasting for economy)... . not alot of heat build-up... . and I am in a snow climate... .

 

[Cliffman]

The more you drive it the more likely the crack will "run" and you'll be kicking yourself if the crack "runs" to a spot where you can't do your drilling without removing the turbo and the manifold. I'll need your email address and I'll send you a picture of the drill motor I used. It worked great with a little help. That right angle drill will not work.

 

[VicR]

Don't know about your miles but based on your year you can't be that far out of warranty. Did you try Cummins and see if they would pick up the block?



Good luck - hope it works out for you. You've got one sharp truck.

 

[EricBu12]

got the kit ordered, found the drill that cliff used, was going to do a coolant drain and flush anyway this spring so I will do that at the same time... .



I just looked under there yesterday and my visible crack is like 2-3 inches long.



I am going to do this next weekend and I will take pictures and do a report on how it went.



By the way, you know you're a diesel head when you reply on the TDR using a Pocket PC phone W/wireless web in the back of an over the road truck!!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Dang Eric, why does the 53 block syndrome have to strike such a nice '01 HO



Thank goodness for the loc-n-stitch fix, hopefully it'll hold for many miles & years to come. Good luck with it.



Vaughn

 

[klaybus]

53

Eric,

I gotta ask... . How many miles on your truck? I've got a 99 that just passed 175k & of course it's a 53 too! The 53 block is always in the back of my mind. Keep us posted.



Clay

 

[Regcabguy]

2nd Time Around

:{ I'm on "53" number two as my original block leaked @17,500 miles. D/C picked up the damage on the first one,but now I'm on my own. Current mileage: 51,300.

 

[EricBu12]

BOY!!! the guys at lock-n-stitch are wonderfull!! I ordered the kit Thursday and they shipped it out that day and I just got it today (sat)..... I am going to do the repair tomorrow. I looked at the DVD that comes with it and I am confident I can do this pretty well... . I am going to take pictures as I do it...



I had to get a couple of tools I didn't have. I was going to get the drill that Cliff has but I couldn't find the chuck. I found a right angle drill that is very stubby and should work... . Also got a nice die-grinder...



The DVD showed how you can do repairs even to a crack right inbetween 2 valve seats in the head!! unbelievable!! Amazing!



My truck has 71K on it and I think I helped the crack to happen last year when I went to Monument Valley, I got the engine pretty warm pulling a hill... .



The crack I have is like 2-3" long but I will clean it up to see if it is longer... . hope not... May just get lucky that it is short... Got the new coolant today to replace the stuff in it right now... Rotella ELC... . good stuff

 

[Cliffman]

I couldn't agree more Eric. Those guys at Lock-n-Stitch are a great bunch. What I liked about the drill that I used was that it was long enough so that you could see the drill bit as you were drilling. I used my right hand to push from the end of the drill and my left hand to push the trigger. The other thing I liked about it was when it came to power tapping, the trigger is a "rocker" type and switching to reverse was simple and easy. That's important when you're tapping with $50. 00 taps that snap like pretzels . There can be no side to side movement. I also like the slower speed for tapping and the higher speed for drilling. I bought the drill and the hex end drill chuck at Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) but I'm sure you can pick one up at Sears. See pic below.