i have 2 vin #s that id like to run to see if they are the 53 blocks or not. anyone know how to find out.



1z7kf2376ij238247


1z7kf2361yj151373

 

Vin has nothing to do with it - you cannot ideantify a #53 block by the Vin. You have a crawl under the truck to see it.

This will help:

http://www.stamey.info/Truck/Cummins53BlockFAQ.htm

 

Going by the first vin number, I don't think that's a diesel.

 

thank you.

 

Dr. evil that was some information ive been locking for. I have a friend with a 99 he just bought and he is nervous about the whole 53 block issue. thanks for posting the info on it.

 

My truck had a 53 block,mine never gave me any trouble,there are many opf them that are fine.On a 99 truck,I'd hope it would have cracked by now if it was going too.

 

Not a problem..

 

im actually doing a block swap on a 98 dodge right now with a 53 block... about 10 inches worth of a crack right under the turbo... somehow the customer got the block under warranty.. its got 130,000 on it ... must know someone in cummins... the 53 is on the bottom front driver side just above the pan rail...

 

53 can be on BOTH sides...mine is

 

no problemswith mine 279,000 and my origional vp44 also and have had almost the same mods since about 95,000 and it does fine. i dont think it is a power issue there are many very high, high horse power engines that are 53 blocks it is the heat issue the amount of heat cycles the block goes through, i have heard that some of the reason they crack is because of consistent hot and cold. i went to a 180 degree thermostat. and there is less heat fluctuation from 190 up and down up and down.

 

i made a freeze plug with a seal that goes into your freeze plug hole and locks in then you drill into the rail below tap and thread in the bolts and it supports the weak area by not alowing to expand as freely and so far its worked pretty well

 

My buddies just cranked with 78k on the motor then his pump died yesterday.

Is there anything he can do other than weld it??

His crack isn't that bad but the truck was highly built before he got it (injectors, TST stack all on the factory turbo and fuel system, no gauages and pulled very heavy loads also rolin on 33X14.50 SSRs on a 12 inch rim) and then at 62k was put back to stock other than a ez when the second clutch went out and the first VP died. So then my friend bought it. He bought it because it had low miles but knew it had lived with a trailer behind it with 15k plus weight and a nut at the wheel but he wanted it, it had wide tires.

Then around 74k he added the juice and called me savin his temp gauage was goin crazy and I told him to check the water, it was low then we found the crack.

So he was been drivin is still added water (it really doesn't leak much, I mean a wouldn't drive it but he still does) till yesterday. Calls me at 7, he was on his way to church and ran out of diesel could a bring him so, sure. Put 4 gallons in his truck, wouldn't start but I drained the fuel filter twice and it would refill the filter but pump turned really fast and had a whine to it. Cracked the injectors no fuel, craked the main injector line, no fuel so I'm thinkin his VP is out. After this thought I asked if he the chips, he said yes. I asked what the fuel pressure was. He said he could always drag it down to 3 or 4 psi on 5 but today he said it was 0 for a little while.

My thinkin, he was slowly killin it and then no diesel at all and it died all together. Sorry to go on it just makes me kinda mad cause if he would have just done what I told him it would have been fine but everybody that lives in my town either wants the biggest chip of wants to to try to stack everything they got to make power with no other things like clutchs of fuel systems then get mad when they blow there trucks up.

 

I have a 53 block, 217K no problems. Bought it used with 175K and the previous owner used it to tow a heavy gooseneck trailer. I think some blocks with 53 are ok and some are junk. Mine would have certianly cracked if it was going to. I have pegged the temp gauge a time or two by accident pulling heavy up steep grades with the cruise on.

 

I am not saying it didn't happen but the percentage is pretty low. They sold millions of these trucks, and probably millions more motors alone in many other applications (power generators, compressors, industrial truck, equipment, etc). Chances that happens to you are very minimal. I had 3 53 blocks, and never had a problem, all over and beyond 200,000 miles.

 

everyone missed my point... this truck is a 98.5 it has about 130,000 miles on it and the guy got warranty to pay for a new block..the truck is almost 10 years old... so if you have a 53 block and it cracks ... bring it to cummins and make them pay for it... it supports my career anyway