View Poll Results: Has your 53 block ACTUALLY cracked
I have a 53 block and it cracked
56
11.34%
I have a 53 block and its NOT cracked
236
47.77%
I have a 53 block that cracked but cummins took care of it
7
1.42%
I dont have a 53 block but I like to vote anways
195
39.47%
Voters: 494. You may not vote on this poll
Has Your 53 Block Actually Cracked - Vote
10-24-2007, 08:23 PM
#76
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Fraser Valley
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had a 53 - now have a 55
My truck had a 53, dealer (independant) just put a 55 into it & rebuilt the bottom end. It had cracked around 85K. It originally spend time in the cold north... could be something about hot engines & cold air....
12-07-2007, 11:31 AM
#77
Registered User
53 block here
I have a 98 Quad shorty 4x4 12v 5spd with the infamous "53'. The truck has 138k and NO CRACK! I drive it like normal and other than a 5th gear nut problem 3k ago, I have had no problems. I have noticed that alot of cracked blocks are in the 24v.
12-07-2007, 11:43 AM
#78
Chapter President
That is because that the most 53 blocks are 24v engines by a large percentage.
12-07-2007, 01:53 PM
#79
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Redding, California
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That dang ol 53 is the one thing that holds me back from completly BOMBing my truck. I didn't know about it when i bought her.
On another note i was in my local cummins dealer to buy some fleetgaurd oil filters and i asked them roughly how much money it would cost to have it replaced in the event that she did crack. Around $7,000!!! He says labor is the bigest expense. Is that price common? Are there cheaper fixes?
On another note i was in my local cummins dealer to buy some fleetgaurd oil filters and i asked them roughly how much money it would cost to have it replaced in the event that she did crack. Around $7,000!!! He says labor is the bigest expense. Is that price common? Are there cheaper fixes?
12-07-2007, 03:35 PM
#80
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That dang ol 53 is the one thing that holds me back from completly BOMBing my truck. I didn't know about it when i bought her.
On another note i was in my local cummins dealer to buy some fleetgaurd oil filters and i asked them roughly how much money it would cost to have it replaced in the event that she did crack. Around $7,000!!! He says labor is the bigest expense. Is that price common? Are there cheaper fixes?
On another note i was in my local cummins dealer to buy some fleetgaurd oil filters and i asked them roughly how much money it would cost to have it replaced in the event that she did crack. Around $7,000!!! He says labor is the bigest expense. Is that price common? Are there cheaper fixes?
Quite frankly, I wouldn't let a 53 block hold me back from bombing the truck. You're more likely to blow a head gasket, turbo, etc... than you are to crack that block.
12-07-2007, 04:07 PM
#81
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Cummins Technical Center, IN
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
5 Posts
There are plenty of stock 53s that cracked, and BOMBed 53s that are holding fine.
If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. There's no reason to lose sleep or avoid bombing or whatever.
I'd avoid a 53 block if in the market for a truck, but I wouldn't part with a truck I had just because of the affliction.
jmo
If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. There's no reason to lose sleep or avoid bombing or whatever.
I'd avoid a 53 block if in the market for a truck, but I wouldn't part with a truck I had just because of the affliction.
jmo
12-08-2007, 09:23 AM
#87
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Disputanta, Virginia
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
136,000+ and no crack. 
Truck is driven daily and used to tow a 10,000lb 5th wheel, do a little drag racing, and NOT pampered at any time. It's only about 100 hp over stock, but it's been that way for well over half its life.
Truck is driven daily and used to tow a 10,000lb 5th wheel, do a little drag racing, and NOT pampered at any time. It's only about 100 hp over stock, but it's been that way for well over half its life.
12-10-2007, 09:48 PM
#89
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Redding, California
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Search "lock stitch". You'll get some pretty good results from a welding process called "Lock-n-stitch". Basically they drill a series of small holes along the crack and then some before and after. Then they proceed to weld the crack and holes back together. Supposed to be nearly bulletproof.
Quite frankly, I wouldn't let a 53 block hold me back from bombing the truck. You're more likely to blow a head gasket, turbo, etc... than you are to crack that block.
Quite frankly, I wouldn't let a 53 block hold me back from bombing the truck. You're more likely to blow a head gasket, turbo, etc... than you are to crack that block.
thanks for the info about the cross stitch. I hadn't heard of that yet. Well maybe a few bombs won't heart. hehe
12-10-2007, 09:53 PM
#90
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Okotoks, AB
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
where can i find out if my block is a 53 or not? i took a quick look from over the driver side fender - could not find it. where exactly do i have to look?
thanx
thanx