[quote author=Pit Bull link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=0#90922 date=1042292265]<br>What block number did they replace it with?<br>[/quote]<br><br>At that time I had not discovered this site yet, and knew nothing about the numbers, so never looked. I plan on it shortly, the next time I am under it. We took it to the Dodge dealer in Pell City, Alabama and they sort of blew us off. With the heart in the throat, looking at the cost of replacing the block, we took it to Magic City Dodge in Birmingham. They just handled it. Took about three weeks to get the new block in at the dealer, they subbed it to Cummins in Birmingham. We supplied four gallons of distilled water, they did the rest. New coolant, new belts, new filters, a great job at no cost. The only thing thay did not so hot was misaligning the front bumper and had the cruise control cable in the wrong position. They painted everything and I believe that they worked the head, looked to be so.<br><br>Got the truck back, went straight to the trailer, hooked up, loaded three Southern Comfort vans and put it to work, no easy breakin at all. Other than losing the truck for a week and a couple of thousand in loads, Cummins made the nightmare into an ok deal. <br><br>My son screwed up a little, at the end it was leaking bad and we still were working the truck in the winter time. He got too much water in it on the road and the heater core cracked. I still have the problem and have to shut it down soon to replace it. What a job though, remove the entire dash, drop the air system and remove the heater, cooler assy. If I can make it through the winter I will, have to work on it outside<br>

 

Tom,<br>Your 56 block will not crack.<br><br>--Justin

 

Thanks Justin. Of course, I don't plan on it cracking, but when I read the various posts it made me wonder why one would crack that was marketed in the U.S., and the ones marketed to Mexico didn't crack. I suppose that was a problem primarily with the 53 series.<br><br>Thanks again,<br><br>Tom

 

<br><br>[quote author=Tom link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=15#91168 date=1042381610]<br>Thanks Justin. Of course, I don't plan on it cracking, but when I read the various posts it made me wonder why one would crack that was marketed in the U.S., and the ones marketed to Mexico didn't crack. I suppose that was a problem primarily with the 53 series.<br><br>Thanks again,<br><br>Tom<br>[/quote]<br><br>Tom they were made in Mexico not Marketed in Mexico. Like Justin said you have a great block with the 56 block. No problem with cracking.

 

Thanks Pitt Bull. I understand now. I didn't realize some of the blocks were manufactured in the Mexico. That is where I was hung up....... <br><br>Tom

 

??? My Dad has a 99 3500 24v the block is cracked below the freeze plug on the right side. I thought it was the 53 that had the weak block, but this one has a 57 in the VIN. It is also well over the 100,000 mile warrenty. We took it to a place here and they tried to fix the crack but it didn't hold. Dayton block said they could have fixed it, had the place here not done what they did. Any suggestions? Replace/repair<br>Where to get new motor/block. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

The #53 casting is a 6 mm thick block thus it is prone to crack. The better 24 valave blocks are a 12 mm casting. Call Piers for assistance on a block. WWW.PIERSDIESEL.COM<br>You never know what that man has till you try.<br>John

 

The Block pattern numbers have nothing to do with the VIN of the vehicle.<br><br>If you are looking for an Engine block, I would try Enterprise Engine, also Cummins Recon, Ebay.<br><br>--Justin

 

Thanks for the info. It is greatly appreciated.<br>

 

[quote author=nascar mark link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=0#90300 date=1042135308]<br>Thats correct. #53 cast in block under inj pump, right above pan.<br>[/quote]<br><br>Now you guy's got me worried! Just checked to see a big &quot;53&quot; on the side of the block! :'( :'(

 

[quote author=TBGH link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=15#99798 date=1044249878]<br>The #53 casting is a 6 mm thick block thus it is prone to crack. The better 24 valave blocks are a 12 mm casting. Call Piers for assistance on a block. WWW.PIERSDIESEL.COM<br>You never know what that man has till you try.<br>John<br>[/quote]<br><br>My #53 that cracked and was replaced now has a #55 block, are these the heavier casting?

 

<br><br>The 55 is a 12MM casting and you should not have any cracking problem.

 

If im looking in the right place mine has a 57 It's right above the oil pan under the injection pump, What is a 57.

 

[quote author=Red-Rattler link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=15#101887 date=1044639727]<br>If im looking in the right place mine has a 57 It's right above the oil pan under the injection pump, What is a 57.<br>[/quote]<br><br>Have not heard of a 57, 2002's have #56 blocks. If you are lucky like I was with my 2000 it did not have a #53,54,55, etc. It had several smaller numbers and letters where most would find the #53. This is good since it indicates a &quot;mexican&quot; made block that was made thicker and of harder material. So if you don't have one of the big #53,54,55, 56's don't be concerned be happy you got lucky!!!

 

I was looking at a new 2002 and it has a number starting with 56XXetc on the top edge, if you look down from the top between the exhaust manifold and up from the oil filter. Is that a 56 Block???<br>---<br>Al