Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) If one has a 53 Block

[hammersley]

can you expect it to eventually go bad - or are there cases when it is OK, i. e. will they all crack, 50%, 10% or what?

 

[tleclair]

#53

Mine cracked at 104,000 miles:--) If your lucky it wont crack and if your not it will. Now I have a #56

 

[78repowerwagon]

Ignore it, it will most likely be OK. If it goes bad, fix or replace it.

 

[FFutch]

I got one...

... and I ain't stressin' about it. The last issue of TDR mag. said not too crank the power up or haul more than GVW. I've done both ... . Doug

 

[Snow man]

Not for nothing but he TDR founders have alwasy been preaching about keeping stock power anyway. As for the #53 block,who cares. The reply given is rediculous, keep the engine stock,and dont tow heavy. Id sell my Cummins in a NY minute if i couldnt bomb it or tow heavy,Thats the reason I bought it. I dont know if i have a #53 block,and i really dont care,im not even going to bother to look. I know whatever it is its holding to over 650hp so far with no trouble at all. If it cracks ill deal with it. Ill likely buy a complete used engine,and sell the head/vp44 off mine to recoup some cash. These engines are getting cheaper every day. As for warranty i dont want DC working on my truck anyway.

 

[curatchko]

Yeah what HE said!!!!!

 

[rashwor]

I would not sweat it....

I have one with 147,000+ miles on it with the EZ and tow heavy. No problems yet. I have heard of very few cases where this happens in comparison with the number of these trucks on the road. There does not seem to be a pattern as far as which ones will crack and which ones won't. You might be worrying for nothing (if you choose to worry). I have too many real issues to worry about and I don't have enough worry to go around.



Besides, the wife says any more expensive repairs (read VP44 has been replaced) and you are getting a new one! I love my wife! Oo.

 

[hammersley]

how much did 44 Cost?

what did it cost to replace the 44?

 

[BigMike]

What's a 53 block, what's the issue and how do you know if you have one?

 

[WadePatton]

It's a particular engine block casting, somehow designated as a #53. Those blocks have a somewhat higher chance of cracking.



Me, as Snow man posted --Ain't worried, ain't looked, will fix it if it cracks, ain't nothing to do now.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by BigMike

What's a 53 block, what's the issue and how do you know if you have one?

Read this thread it will educate you on the 53 blocks and cracked blocks. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66346&highlight=cracked+block

 

[BigMike]

Thanks guys. There really are some things a guy really doesn't need to know about, especially those things he can't resolve. I think this is one of them.

 

[Rebel_Horseman]

:{



I really wish I hadn't gone outside to look under my truck. I have the feared 53 block. Truck has about 141k and some change on it. Everything seems ok but with my luck who knows. I don't think it's going to be a probalem because I'm not going to turn the power up until I can afford it but still... .



Reb [><]

 

[WadePatton]

Dangit to hell, I went and read the other thread and now I'll feel miserably uninformed if I don't go out there and look.



[time passes]



[more time passes] moved the loom.



Nothing that looks like a 5X under there. Checked both sides. I'll have to check Mom's 99 next.

 

[jgillott]

Well, after reading this thread, I just had to go out and look. . Of course I have a #53 block in my 01 built 6/00. I guess this is a good excuse for the wife to let me get that new 4 door that I want.

 

[ben_ak]

Just for comparision, by Boss has a '99 3500 and his #53 cracked at 43k niles.

 

[Pit Bull]

Here is some info:



1. Brazilian Blocks are cast by a company named "TUPY" and are marked such.

They are identified with cast evolution numbers.

#53's are TUPY's. #54 and later evolutions were improved to correct the block issues that the 53's had.

2. Mexican Blocks were made by "Teksid" these blocks to my knowledge never had a problem with cracking, as they are heavier duty by trait, but they did follow the evolutions and got thicker.

These blocks do not have the 2 digit "cast number" embossed on the side, instead a series of numbers that are unidentifiable to me.

The mexicans blocks were rumored to even be harder to machine do to a harder cast overall, basically better quality in my opinion.



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



So basically if there is a pattern number its brazilian, if there is a series of small numbers its mexican.



By the way the Mexican equivalent of a 56 pattern was the Heaviest ISB block of all.

 

[Snow man]

I notice soem ISB's are much quiter than others,mine seems to be a quiet one,my dad's is noisey. I bet the #53 blocks are noisier than the later bloacks,and mexican blocks. For that reason only i may look and see if there is a correlation between how noisey they are,and cracks in the blocks.

 

[SteveE]

Area 53

Just keep the boost down below 10lbs. if possible until fully warmed up.

Steve

 

[Stamey]

1999 2500, 73K, PM3 Comp, towing about 8K over a mountain, now have a cracked 53 block. Did tow on level 4 at 75 mph, but that shouldn't matter.

Evaluating my options now. Saw the thread on here where someone recommended a fix, as per a Navistar TSB (it seems the 7. 3 had this problem a lot in the past).

Thinking of debombing and buying an ECM and VP44 to put on to take it in for warranty work. Anyone got either of these I can borrow for a month or so?

Should I insist that the replacement block NOT be a 53, or 54? From this thread, it looks like I should only accept a 54 or a block with no 5x casting number on it.



Oh yeah, pics of the 53 and the leak. Let's see if this works.

Left front of engine, just above pan, below VP-44.



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Rigth side of engine, directly behind the heat exchanger and turbo.



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Thanks,

Chris