Has anyone out here who,s active on TDR's site read whats been said about not all of the blocks with 53 on them was affected with thin casting ?

 

I'm not on TDR, but I have heard that not all 53's are thin. You can pop out the freeze plugs and measure the casting if you like.

 

I've heard of that just never knew what the thickness should be ? Looks like cummins would have narrowed it down to a certain range of serial numbers or build dates .

 

its pretty well known, but im not going to pop out a freeze plug just to measure...having a 53 is a none issue for me cauz mine isnt cracked and i dont worry about it.

 

I had 2 of them with over 200,000 miles and didn't have a problem.

 

Mine hasn't cracked yet-

 

488ooo miles and still going

 

62k........cracked!!

 

135K and going stong

 

Off topic, why are you using a 24v crank in the 12v? Other than the tone ring, they are the same, no?

 

The vast majority of 53 blocks that could crack (small%) have already cracked. The longer they go the less likely it could crack. The newest block in question is now SEVEN years old. Let the old dog die. JMHO

 

I need the tone ring....only reason

 

traded mine at 270k with added 100hp under heavy towing went thru 7 nv4500 trannies bustining the inner gears and it never cracked and it was a 98.5

 

Yep! theres no dought more of them have survived than cracked . I guess in this world of vast amounts information I can't help but wonder when did Cummins figure out they had a proublem ? An did they start changing the casting procedure before they went on to the next numbered series . I realize for anyone who's got one like myself it is what it is . Money an time can fix what ever hapens . The only one who could benefit would be someone who knows what to look for before he or she buys one . Theres so many articles out there one person could never get through them all . I was just wondering if anyone from the TDR site had stumbled onto anything new ?

 

Theres a link (somewhere on this site) which shows what freeze plug to pull and what the measurement should be (search 53 block, get a beer or two and plan on being there a while). Good luck getting the original owner to let you measure before you buy, too late after. If memory serves, the brazilian blocks were the ones in question - the mexican blocks were OK (might have that backwards). The link (once found) will identify this for you. Its all a crap shoot though, I bought mine with 141,000 miles knowing it had a 53. Still hoping not to join the "cracked 53" club.....