Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Take a guess

[SMadden]

This is what it looked like 2 weeks ago. Now it's got a brand new short block in it. Thank god for extended warranties. The rest of the truck has only got 60000 miles on her and it's going up for sale next week. The vp44 went out last year also under warranty. Only reason I am selling is to get a dually.

P. S. whoever it was saying not to worry about them 53 blocks cracking, I listened to you once, never will I listen again :-laf .

#ad


#ad

 

[Stake Man]

So, how do you tell what block you have?

 

[SMadden]

Look at the front left hand ( drivers side ) bottom corner of the block. If you see a 53 cast in the side then look out.

Good luck.

 

[Stake Man]

I will check that out. I'm kinda torn between not wanting to have one to "hey, a new motor"

 

[rkressg]

You can also look on the engine identification plate. It is on the timing gear cover (front right side) in line with the injection pump. It is a little black plate; it contains engine serial number, horse power rating, compression, valve lash, ect... .

 

[SOOT]

My Moms 99 has the 53 block with nearly 225,000 miles and the original VP44.

 

[RacinDuallie]

Was that from a cracked block? or from a head gasket failure?

 

[SMadden]

Cracked block

 

[brianMo]

Been there and done that! Mine is still holding from my Locknstitch repair. Did not want to come up with the $$$ to do the block exchange.



Brian

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

You can also look on the engine identification plate. It is on the timing gear cover (front right side) in line with the injection pump. It is a little black plate; it contains engine serial number, horse power rating, compression, valve lash, ect... .

This has been hashed over many times and the engine serial number and block casting number basically have nothing to do with each other and there is no way to tell if you have a 53 block without climbing underneath the truck and looking for the casting number.

 

[RacinDuallie]

Cracked block

:{



Where about on the block was this crack? location?



Wondering if I should ask for a psi test on my 53 block while the machine shop has it, or magnaflux it?



Do the 53's all crack in same general location or anywhere?

 

[brianMo]

My crack was almost identical to the one posted. They all crack in the same place. Some crack worse then others. Mine was a three inch crack. I do not think there is any known reason for it. It has happen to stock trucks as well as highly bombed trucks. My theory is towing heavy probably contributed. But who really knows. I read an archive that had the problem on a truck with less then 20k. The wall on the water jacket is just to thin. It is a shame that these hit the market. Should have been recalled long ago. There is some hope though with locknstitch.



Brian

 

[jersey diesel]

Engine block

does this number 53 ever show up on 2004. 5 trucks?

 

[Mishkaya]

does this number 53 ever show up on 2004. 5 trucks?

No, you have nothing to worry about.

mishkaya

 

[hensign]

Has anybody ever tried to do a pole on why some 53's crack and others do not? Block heater usage maybe? Not allowing the motor to warm up slowly befor pushing it? I just have to wonder since this is my 2nd one with 200k and both were used for heavy towing.

Hadley

 

[GMincher]

There was a post some time back that claimed these blocks were a serious problem in school busses. Apparently the constant start-stop cycles caused them to give way pretty frequently. I've got one with 130,000 that is used daily for heavy towing. I've also got a spare block in the shop. Because I have a spare, I'll probably never have a problem! If I sell the spare, I'm doomed!! See ya, Greg

 

[SMadden]

I can tell you that my truck has been pampered. I tow a enclosed trailer that might weigh 5500 pounds loaded about twice a month. Other than that I just drive back and forth to work. My truck has 4:10 gears so it does not get put under a load. When it is below 40 I will plug in the block heater. When running for the first time after it's been parked over about 4 hours, I always let the truck idle ( in neutral, better on the auto trans ) atleast 2 or 3 minutes. Maybe I should have drove it like it was meant to be drove and it would not have cracked :-laf . I just wish someone would take the resposibility for it. I got real lucky that I bought an extended warranty. I think my total bill would have been around $8000 if not for that. Good luck to all that owns a 53. Hope it don't happen to you.

Cya, Scott

 

[jzenk]

The 53's crack because a radius in the casting was overlooked by the guys at the foundry pouring the blocks. Instead of a rounded corner(strong), a sharp, square corner was cast. This sharp corner is prone to cracking due to fatigue. i. e. heating and cooling of the block. Eventually the tornado hits the mobile home and the block cracks. This is why they all crack in the same location... right on the blueprint where a radiused corner was drawn, but never made it to the mold. Hope this helps. ZMAN