well after a lot of thought and some hesitation i decided to actually look and see if this "new to me truck" has a 53....only reason i didnt look is because truthfully i agree with 99globalwarmer,tate and a few others that there are more good one's out there than bad...and more then a few that are BOMBED that are holding well...so why even bother and worry about it after you look.

but like my mechanic said...sooner or later courisity will get you and you will look....

so i get down there and look at the passenger side first....right at the oil pan and block in the area's of oil filter-turbo drain and i dont see anything other than what i will get to....and then i go to the drivers side and look in the area of the VP44 where the block meets the pan...and no 53 so i figure all is clear....right.

ok with that out of the way (being that i cant see a 53 on the block) and i have seen a block with one on it...at my mechanics shop and as well on a truck i considered buying (so i do figure i know what to look for) what i did see is something that looks like an

"8" or "B"....what is that....it is much smaller than the "53" those numbers are roughly an inch tall and this is maybe a 1/2 inch or smaller....it is not followed by any series of numbers just a stand alone letter or number.....

i could not see a string of numbers like a "mexican" block is said to have.....

can someone help...what is this "8" or "B" and is there another place to look for the 53

thanks

NCA

 

The 53 can be on the drivers side or both sides....

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


If you look at the pics on Stameys page you should easly be able to see where to look on your block. The big 53 is very hard to miss.

 

hey thanks DR. i have read that article many times before...that along with actually seeing it on a block at my mechanics shop lead me to being able to know i am 98% sure i dont have one.

as well....

sorry guys i should have posted this mere minutes after i posted the origional question...

that is a "B" that i am seeing....and it is a stamp cummins put on all ISB blocks denoting commerical or small truck use...only on the 4 cyl and 6 cyl motors....i found it here...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cummins_B_Series_engine


as well this "B" is stamped right in the same area as a 53 would show up..both driver and passenger sides....for the life of me i cant see a 53 nor can i see any string of numbers so what does that me.....is my block neither a mexican or brazilian heck is my block even cummins....lol

NCA

 

Let the BOMBING begin....

 

crap, just dug thru the dirt and found a "53" block, but no signs of coolant leaking.

 

well....lets just wait and see.....like i said as it stands i am about 98% sure it is not a 53...gonna drive by MASTER SPLINTER's shop and have him take a look and doubble check....

once he confirms what i have a feeling about.....

well...who knows.....

need to sell another vehicle..after that i got roughly 2-3k to spend... it could get crazy....then again it might be wise to drive it as is for awhile.....

NCA

thanks DOC....