Hello, I am new to this site and this forum and have ended up here due to the problem with my block. I have been reading on the web about this process called "metal stitching" and a product called "lock-n-stitch" and it seems that this might be a good fix for my cracked block. Does anyone have any experience with this process? Additionally if anyone knows of a repair facility that will complete the repair "in frame" I would appreciate that info as well. I am near Louisville, KY so I would like to find a shop within 5 or 6 hours of me if possible. Thanks in advance.

Kevin

 

you will find just about all your answers here

http://www.stamey.info/Truck/Cummins...NewInformation

 

I hope you have better luck than I did. I looked for someone to do the lockandStich in frame and so did the folks from Locknstich with no one in a 100 mile radius that would even try. I found one machine shop that would do it but I had to have the engine out and the block stripped which did not seem practical for me at the time. I am sending you a PM with some additional repair info that I received.

 

Thanks for pointing me to that thread, sounds like the "lock-n-stitch" may be a viable fix. Does anyone know of a repair facility within a few hundred miles of Louisville, KY? I would like to have the repair completed in frame to save the expense of pulling the engine.

Kevin

 

I have talker to 2 shops that tell me they will do the repair in frame. One is in Milwaukee, WI and the other is about 30 miles south of Nashville. I will be happy to get you their info if you would like it. Kevin

 

why not do it yourself? It really doesnt seem that tough

 

Yeah, this lock n stitch method looks to be fairly simple.
Yes, some time invested but the fix is stress free.

 

Unfortunately I am not mechanically inclined; I have to hire all of my work out. I have talked to a local who specializes in this type of crack repair. He has never done a 5.9 Cummins but has repaired many marine engines using this process and claims that it works very well. I am going to to take my truck to him tomorrow and he is going to assess the crack and determine if he can complete the repair "in frame". I'll keep you posted as to the progress. BTW, I also have contacted Cummins to attempt to get assistance from them. I am the second owner of my 99 Ram 3500, it has 117,000 miles on it and it is straight stock. Has anyone had any success with Cummins on these blocks?

 

Chris Stamey is the only one that I have heard of. Cummins just blew me off when I contacted them since I was the 3rd owner and had 177,000 miles on the truck. But it would appear that since they were the ones responsible for quality control they should be liable. Cummins refered me to Dodge and they where not interested at all due to miles and years. Did you look at the repair that RCW had sent me and I forwarded it to you?

 

Hey 5string Just curious who is the shop in milwaukee. You can pm me if you like.

 

The name of the business is Crack Eliminator, LLC. He has a website www.crackeliminator.com. I spoke with him on the phone and he sounded very knowledgeable. He claimed to have performed several of these repairs in the frame with success. Unfortunately I am an 8 hr drive from there. I haven't completely ruled it out yet, I am just trying to locate someone closer. When I talked to Cummins they told me that they were "handleing them on a case by case basis"; I'm not sure what that means but I guess I'll find out.
Kevin

 

I,ve read that if you are the first or second owner, and have less than 150,000 miles cummins will assist in a block replacement as long as it is done at a cummins repair facility. Also there is a place in chillicothe missouri(spelling unknown) that a member here had there truck done in frame. Look for some postings by blh1960.

 

I spoke with Cummins today......they immediately offered to cover 100% of the parts if I had it repaired at a Cummins repair facility. That leaves me with a $3200.00 repair bill per Cummins Cumberland in Louisville, KY. I also have found a local machinist who looked at my truck today and thinks that he can do the repair, (metal stitching), in frame. He is going to research it and let me know in a couple of days. The problem I see with that is even after repairing the crack, (mine is about 4 inches long), you still are left with a block that is defective and may crack again.

 

thats what I was thinking as well Kevin
Great get it fixed in the truck and your good till.....

Pay the 3200 and get allot of new parts..

If I had the 3200 I would go that way for sure.

dan

 

I think the cummins repair is the best way to go. The lock in stitch is a little less than 1000 so i think the block replace is the best option for the money. Its about a 8 or 9000 dollar job if you have to pay for everything through cummins..