I finally found a grail truck. 98, 12v, short bed, quad cab, 5 speed and it runs like a top with 150K on the odometer. I looked a little more and found it has a 53 block. My big question is: has anybody ever heard of a 12v engine/53 block having any of the common cracking problems. I know personally about the 24v problems.

Thanks for the info in advance, cd

 

Never heard of a 12 valve having a problem with a 53, not even the high hp ones.

 

'ChariotDriver' - Just in case you have not seen it, this is a quote from a 53 Block expert........

"Update: Recent information I have received from a 1998 12v owner says that some late 12v engines have "53" blocks. This owner knows because he HAS one. His truck has a build date of 11-97. He did say, however, that he has had no problems with his block, regularly pulling heavy trailers in the Rocky Mountains."

RJ

 

12v 53 blocks split just like the 24v. Its the same block, after all. There is just far fewer 12v 53's out there. There are several cases of it happening. But its still a rare occurance. I wouldn't turn down the truck you are after because of the block.

 

i have a 97 out of a burned unit that is a 53 and the crack is visible

 

The 53 12v blocks are a completely a different casting and different part number and are not known for cracking like the much thinner 24v 53's.

 

Hmmmm...............nothing like fishing for the answer in muddy waters.

 

It would stand to reason that a 24 valve engine would have a different part # than a 12 valve engine. However, unless you are privy to the part number of the block(s) only, without anything attached to it(them) I would agree that a 53 block is a 53 block since the 53 number on the side of the block IS from the cast the block was manufactured from.

 

Just buy it, or let me have it. I get along with 53's .

 

I guess those 12v's with 53's that have cracked were 24v blocks then?

 

Have you ever seen the blocks sitting side by side and/or measured the walls and pan rails for thickness?.I have seen them done and they are quite different and they are not the same at all.The 24v block has had the walls cast thinner and the place where they crack is due to the block flexing under load.While its a deal we see in our trucks at times it was way more prevelant in the motorcoaches where the blocks were under constant stress due to the heavy payloads they move all the time.

Tate...
I am not going to say you didn't see a 53 block in a 12v that was cracked,but,I will say this.Unless you know the circumstances surrounding the reason it cracked how could you just say its the blocks fault?.There are numerous reasons someone can crack a block without it being related to the block weakness/stress fractures of the 24v 53 blocks.Just trying to keep an open mind here.

 

I was working on a 24 valve a couple weeks ago and noticed the freeze plugs were much smaller.
That alone indicates to me the 12 and 24 blocks are different.

 

12 grand later it's mine.

I had no idea how much power these engines can make. The guy I purchased it from (original owner) had DDP do a bunch of work to include dropping the compression down to 15.x to handle the extra boost and he said it's ready for a second turbo on the way to 600hp though I question the numbers a bit. The double disk clutch will take some getting used to and he put a new tranny in last summer. It flat out screams; betting it will give my brother's Duramax a run for it's money. It makes my stock trucks look pretty sad in the performance department; looks like some upgrades are in my future

Thanks for all your help and I'm hoping it holds together. cd