Does anybody know how to tell by the vin number if a truck has the dreaded number 53 on the block? This is a 2000 model and I'm not sure if they had already did away with it by then. The truck is to far away from me to go over there and see if it has it or not but with 180K miles on it arleady don't you think it would have already had problems with the block cracking by now? Any help is appreciated.

 

2000 model year had the 53. Just ask the guy who's selling it to take a look ... it's hard to miss! Tell him to look under the driver's side, directly above the pitman arm, just above the lip of the oil pan ... if it's there he'll see it!

I've got 137K on mine and still rolling!

 

If I don't plan on doing any heavy towing and just plan on putting on a few perfromance mods will this truck be ok even if it has the 53 block?

 

I don't have any experience with the 53 block beyond what I have read here, but I wouldn't take a chance with one. I got lucky and ended up with one of the unmarked, presumed to be Mexican manufactured blocks.

Take a look here for all the info you could possibly want on the 53 block including what to do when the one you seek lets loose on you.

 

i have a 53 block sitting in the floor of my garage with a crack in it. Got it from a dodge dealer who had to swap it out on a warranty job. Scored it for 200 dollars, this included the lift pump and injection pump! My buddy worked there and he said the engine was running fine, had 86,000 miles on it, just leaked. look on the drivers side, under the injection pump, right above the oil pan and you will see a big cast in #53. Sometimes they put it on the passengers side also.

 

Now that's a find there...