Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Number 53 AGAIN

[24VChev]

Well I did not think that I would ever see a # 53 block with a crack in it but it happened to my Friends truck. It is a 99 Dodge 6 speed 4x4. It only puts out 380 hp to the tires and on the weekend the crack appeared while towing a light trailer up the Coquihalla hwy.



He never tows very much (1% of the time) it is a work truck that weighs 8800lbs all the time. It is basically his BMW sports car killer.



Well now comes the moral dilemma, strip the truck and take it back to Dodge and see if they will warranty it, or fix it himself.







Malcolm

 

[rashwor]

Questions.

Can you give some background on the truck? How many miles are on it? What power mods are on the truck?

 

[csevers]

I would try to get warranted if anywhere near 100k mark, they know they had/have a problem with that block and were slow to change things, I am sure they look at the "big" picture at failure %'s of the total and know that most will make it past the 100k warrany and they will not have to pay so I say if they get screwed back only a couple of % of the time your playing there game I am not in favor of fraud but there almost comitting it on anyone with that engine block of witch I am one, not so happily. The ONLY up side to this is if they do not cover the block it is a good time to get serious about making more power with interal changes cam,O-ringing,porting while your there.



Good luck to your friend I hope it get taken care of!!



Craig

 

[24VChev]

Crack

The truck has 136,000 kms on it or 80,000 miles (approx).



Power Mods:





90 HP BD XXX pulse injectors

Comp Box with blue chip cover (wire hooked up)

stock hx 35 turbo

4" exhaust

open K & N air filter

SouthBend Con O clutch also



Thats it



He drives it fairly hard and egt's are always up near 1300 with the stock turbo. (pre turbo)



It dyno'd at about 380 hp at the rear wheels last year. It has been bomb'd for the last 40,000 miles.

 

[Diesel Nut]

What exactly is a #53 block? Should I worry with mine? I drive pretty hard and tow alot (12,000#, every chance I get). I log alot of miles a year, this years (Jun - Jun) was over 27,000 miles. Thanks

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by Diesel Nut

What exactly is a #53 block? Should I worry with mine? I drive pretty hard and tow alot (12,000#, every chance I get). I log alot of miles a year, this years (Jun - Jun) was over 27,000 miles. Thanks

Do a search on #53 and you will get the skinny.



Basically the #53 block (1 inch tall numbers on the drivers side of the engine block, just above the oil pan) is a series of engines that came out with casting issues. Thin/weak spot that consistently cracks in the same place. I think it is around the #6 cylinder on the passenger side. If you have a #53 block, it is no guarantee that it will crack, and chances are that it won't, it's just that pretty much the only blocks that are cracking under normal use (DC standards) are the #53's.



Don't worry too much, just be aware of it. If it is going to crack, it will no matter what you do. DC has been pretty straight about this issue, and have replaced engines out of warranty (over 100k miles) with no argument.

 

[Jeff Knight]

Diesel Nut, You either have a "56" block or the Mexican block. Either one is a stronger block than the "53" block. My 02 has the "56" block in it. Jeff

 

[NScott]

I don't know if you have a 53 block or not. If you do, you are another one of the many unlucky. I too am in this group,however, my block on my 99 has not cracked YET! I don't know if it will or not but it has a better than most chance because I tow heavy, I bought the truck to TOW, if I didn't want to TOW the loads of farm equipment I pull on my 5'er, I would have stayed with the many gas GM's I have owned. It has been posted on some threads that if one loads too heavy and their block cracks that they should'nt b... h about it. I don't see it that way because the weight of the tow should have NOTHING to do with whether the block cracks or not. Maybe other things such as the transmission,rear end, clutch, U joints etc. but NOT THE BLOCK!!! It has been said that Dodge buys the engines from Cummins without warranty and I also understand that but there is a law that goes beyond the normal warranty as it is often thought of and that is the WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITTNESS OF PURPOSE. I think this is where a KNOWN DEFECT by a manufacturer (Cummins) has some if not all of the liability. But I'm not a lawyer, and it would take a Class action lawsuit and many years of legal fighting to resolve. I just find it unacceptable to pass this defect off and all the potential cracked blocks that will happen in the future, by merely saying that if you are out of warranty you are SOL given the track record of long life for these engines ( up to and beyond 1,000,000 miles for some). Cummins and/or Dodge SHOULD cover just the cracked blocks for years to come regardless of miles or age because IT IS AND WAS A KNOWN DEFECT!!:-{} :-{}

 

[klaybus]

53 Block!

NScott,

I'm with you!:--)

 

[JEldredge]

Block #53

HELP -- first-time user of this site and trying to find some info on Block #53. "Sticks" says do "search for the skinny". How? Typing in #53 in the search area gives 0 results.

 

[csevers]

For a search hit the search forums button at the top of the screen and type ( 53 block ) or( #53 block ) or just ( cracked block ) and this should yeild years worth of reading you some times have to try different ways of wording what you are lookin for. Leave out the ( and ) out .



Craig



P. S. Welcome to the forums JEldredge

 

[Ram666]

cracked 53

just had my 53 block replaced under warranty due to the leaky green stuff. your best off to remove all your toys. you will be asked to sign a form saying you have not modified your truck. i was told by my service manager d. c would not cover this repair if it was modified. it took 6 days to get the reman 56 short block and 5 days to swap. you will need proof of regular service work including coolant service at 48000km {Canadian eh}. mine cracked at 13500km. dealer was very reluctantto dothe work until i took a copy of the cummins buletin regarding this topic. if you talk nice to your local cummins dealer he may give you a copy of it.

 

[Ram666]

buletin l

cummins states trucks affected are 97-present engine serial number 56447733-present found on your eng id tag located on the driver side of the timing cover. cracks initiateon the inner wallof the blockand grew to the outer wall. problem traced to stresses of cylinder head loads firing pressures and thermal and residual stress, which are aggrevated bythe specific customer application. eg. towing

 

[Blair]

I wonder if DC will cover the 24 Valve in your Chev Malcolm?



I've only ever seen one and that was Chris' (RAM666).



But I can't help but to wonder how many blocks have started to crack on the inside and are working their way out?



I'm looking for a truck and it will play a part in my purchase decision albeit a small one.

 

[24VChev]

wty?

Blair, I doubt that DC would wty my 5. 9 but if it happens (i doubt it will) I will repair the crack. I am going to measure the thickness of the block at wear it is cracking. I have access to a tool that can measure the thickness of metal with out any destructive means. It measures by ultrasound. I am curious to see how thick they really are in that area. I hear that the weak blocks are 6mm thick.

Ram666=Chris at work? He drives like an animal, if anything is the weak link he would find it!



In the mean time BOMBS away!





Malcolm

 

[24VChev]

Good News!

Well my freind made it back to Ontario cracked block and all. He says that bars leak held back the coolant! Did not lose much more coolant on the trip back. He talked to his dealership where he bought the truck and they said that it should not be a problem to have a new engine installed. They have seen a couple of these before.

 

[Blair]

Not That Chris. RAM666 is a friend of a friend. he was at the track that night we were running, although he didn't run as his block was cracked.