03CumminZ4X4

I have two 98 12V trucks sitting in the driveway. Both trucks have less than 100K miles each. I just bought a 53 block truck yesterday and am contemplating swaping the engines out and selling the truck that will then have the 53 block in it, some people dont care about the 53 block in the 12V's. It will be a direct swap, and I have the tools and a shop to do the work. Been reading on the 53 block issues and can't find any reported problems with the 53 block 12 valve engines but I know that the mexican blocks are thicker (Teksid) castings and are more desirable. Just dont want to sell my other truck with a perfect non 53 engine and regret it. By the way both engines run perfectly and the 53 has no cracks that are visible. Opinions? Thanks in advance!

Hammer

Why would you want to sell it or replace it????
There are no known issues with the 12v 53 blocks and I have yet to ever hear of one cracking.The 24v 53 blocks are a completely different casting with a thinner walls and pan rails which allow the motor to warm up quicker,thus lower emmissions.
I would leave it alone and enjoy both trucks as there are alot of 12v 53's with hundreds of thousands of miles on them with no issues......Andy

03CumminZ4X4

Thanks. I actually called Cummins today and gave them my engine ser.#. They looked at the data base and it appears that the block that I have is an improved 53. The Cummins tech said that it showed that my engine was built in Oct of 97 and that the improved blocks started production in May of 97. Oh yea... Can't keep both trucks, as much as I would like to. Seems you may be correct that there are actually two different versions of the 53.

Hammer

Research,Research.....
I looked into that way long ago when I realized mine had one,LOL.
Which one is going down the highway,maybe I can help you find a home as I have people out here looking for 12v's???.....Andy

03CumminZ4X4

Thanks again! Just noticed your sig. With the exception of the club cab and the short bed, the truck I just bought is a twin to yours, I think, heres a pic. I will be keeping the truck I just bought with the 53 block in it. I am selling the truck in my sig. 98 quad cab, auto, slt laramie, 2wd dually, white with the dark grey interior with the non 53 block in it. Truck is in excellent shape and has 99k on it, Michelin XPS rib tires in good condition. I have put 6K miles on it and had no problems. I killed the KDP with the TST kit. The truck is ready to go.

gozapper

What you are saying is that all the 53 Blocks 12 valves are good blocks?

Tom

displacedtexan

Yes, no known instances of them cracking. They are different...

90dodge

What price ya lookin for your 98 dually?

Bob.

Tate

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d+block&page=2
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...=cracked+block
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...=cracked+block

Just look at cummnz4x4pwr posts.

displacedtexan

I didn't know that Jake had found 2 cracked 12v 53 blocks. I do find it a bit odd that he has found 2, and every other source says not an issue. Not saying he is wrong, just thinking out loud.

Tate

My thinking is this. 53 blocks in the 12v's were produced for half a year, 53 blocks in 24v's were produced up to 3.5-4 years. So thinking same production numbers each year, you're looking at 7 times the 53 blocked 24v's than 12v's.

displacedtexan

I see your point, and am not saying Jake is lying, mostly just pointing out the odds of him finding two. Makes me wonder the back story on them. Which we will never know.