It is located on the drivers side below the VP44 and a couple of inches above the oil pan. If it is a 2002 it is a #56 or it is a Mexican block.

 

Here is some information on the block cracking question that might help.<br><br>1. Brazilian Blocks are cast by a company named &quot;TUPY&quot; and are marked such.<br>They are identified with cast evolution numbers.<br>#53's are TUPY's. #54 and later evolutions were improved to correct the block issues that the 53's had.<br>2.Mexican Blocks were made by &quot;Teksid&quot; these blocks to my knowledge never had a problem with cracking, as they are heavier duty by trait, but they did follow the evolutions and got thicker.<br>These blocks do not have the 2 digit &quot;cast number&quot; embossed on the side, instead a series of numbers that are unidentifiable to me.<br>The mexicans blocks were rumored to even be harder to machine do to a harder cast overall, basically better quality in my opinion.<br><br>Brazilian Tupys always seem to outnumber Mexican blocks during the ISB's production probably about 8 to 1.<br><br>So basically if there is a pattern number its brazilian, if there is a series of small numbers its mexican.<br><br>By the way the Mexican equivalent of a 56 pattern was the Heaviest ISB block of all. This means if you have a 2002 without a #56 on it and instead it has a series of numbers that are smaller and hard to identify, you got the the big boy!!!<br><br>Hope this helps shed more light on this issue.

 

I looked at my cousins truck and it has the &quot;53&quot; block, his is a 99' with 160,000 miles.I then looked at mine,{01'.5} and where the &quot;53&quot; was on his there is nothing on minebut above that area another inch or two is about 6 numbers.I'm hoping this means a mexican block.<br><br> John

 

[quote author=Floor It link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=30#102444 date=1044764488]<br> I looked at my cousins truck and it has the &quot;53&quot; block, his is a 99' with 160,000 miles.I then looked at mine,{01'.5} and where the &quot;53&quot; was on his there is nothing on minebut above that area another inch or two is about 6 numbers.I'm hoping this means a mexican block.<br><br> John<br>[/quote]<br><br>John, that's what it means, It is a Mexican block. My 2000 was a Mexican block. My 2002 has a #56 on it but that is fine with me since they are the heavy duty 12mm blocks.

 

I'm really glad its a &quot;mexican&quot; block for what I have instore fore it! ;D

 

[quote author=Floor It link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=30#102455 date=1044767511]<br> I'm really glad its a &quot;mexican&quot; block for what I have instore fore it! ;D<br>[/quote]<br><br>Ahem.......and how long has it been a toybox? <br><br>If it ever stops snowing I'll crawl under mine and see what it reveals.....I keep forgeting to do it.

 

True, right now its an expesive toy box with holding the kids toys back there but I'm weeding them out and I'm almost toy free. ;D As to your block its probably the &quot;53&quot; :P matter of fact I'm sure of it ;D AH come on you big baby, the snows not gonna hurtcha.

 

Looks as if I have won the lotto also!! I have a 01 6 speed HO it has 106000 miles on it. Has any one found out if the warrenty will do any thing at this point?? or is there any other fix than a new block ?<br>Alex

 

[quote author=roho123 link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=30#104057 date=1045115419]<br>Looks as if I have won the lotto also!! I have a 01 6 speed HO it has 106000 miles on it. Has any one found out if the warrenty will do any thing at this point?? or is there any other fix than a new block ?<br>Alex <br>[/quote]<br><br>Alex, sorry to hear you have this problem. What is your block number? You are out of warranty, but you can still see if DC would be willing to help you out. It has been done before.

 

It is a 53. It started with just a antifreeze smell with very little loss for about 10,000 miles<br>with less than 1 quart lost in 3 months now it steams and smells every time I go any<br>distance. I need to make a 1000 mile trip ths week pulling a 24ft. gooseneck with about<br>4000 lb. on it going over the blues 2 ways. Think I will make it ?<br> <br>who is DC ?<br>AlexIt is a 53

 

[quote author=roho123 link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=30#104180 date=1045151918]<br>It is a 53. It started with just a antifreeze smell with very little loss for about 10,000 miles<br>with less than 1 quart lost in 3 months now it steams and smells every time I go any<br>distance. I need to make a 1000 mile trip ths week pulling a 24ft. gooseneck with about<br>4000 lb. on it going over the blues 2 ways. Think I will make it ?<br> <br>who is DC ?<br>AlexIt is a 53<br>[/quote]<br><br>DC is Dodge. If it was leaking 10K miles ago which is at 96K miles why didn't you take it to the dealer for them to fix it under the 5 year 100K mile warranty? There are ways to fix the block, if you are a member of the TDR they have a thread on the repair with several members giving their experence. Good luck.

 

MWShannon posted this on DodgeTruckWorld.com:

Just got off of phone with Dodge rep, they said if enough of us with the crack #53 casting number call Customer Support 1-800-992-1997 it might make a difference. No matter how much miles, THEY NEED TO KNOW TO DO A RE-CALL.

There's a couple of others also posting about cracked blocks.
And we bust on Chubbys for aluminum heads?

I guess we admit there is a problem without wanting a VIN# for verification. :

 

[quote author=roho123 link=board=4;threadid=9428;start=30#104180 date=1045151918]<br>It is a 53. It started with just a antifreeze smell with very little loss for about 10,000 miles<br>with less than 1 quart lost in 3 months now it steams and smells every time I go any<br>distance. I need to make a 1000 mile trip ths week pulling a 24ft. gooseneck with about<br>4000 lb. on it going over the blues 2 ways. Think I will make it ?<br> <br>who is DC ?<br>AlexIt is a 53<br>[/quote]<br><br>We kept using our for a month or so and put 10,000 miles on it. Just keep water in it and it will be ok. If a letter from another &quot;cracked&quot; owner would help I am glad to. It cost a couple of thousand in lost revenue when mine cracked.

 

UPDATE ,<br>The dealer I purchased my truck from replaced my block.( did a nice job ) the factory warranty<br> replaced the block however I had to pay for the labor and oil ect.<br>$ 1219.29. I still think it was broken before it was out of warranty and I<br> will address this with the factory now the block has been changed <br> Alex

 

My truck was built here in the states,does that mean I need to worry?