Stamey's post about his possible cracked block got me thinking again... I have a '99 also and I've searched for the block ID number (driver side, above the oil pan, towards the front of the engine?) but have never been able to locate it. It may be that my engine is so dirty I can't see the number... but I was wondering if someone could post a pic of exactly where ID the number is located... so I could be sure.

Thanks.

 

Its on the block around the power steering / vacuum pump. Thats where i found mine. It'll have 200k in about 3 more months and it gets the dog snot worked out of it.

 

[quote author=Rich-Cowboy link=board=4;threadid=19483;start=0#msg182799 date=1063157092]
Its on the block around the power steering / vacuum pump. Thats where i found mine. It'll have 200k in about 3 more months and it gets the dog snot worked out of it.
[/quote]


Dog snot????????? Is this a Texas (or Aggie) expression? Or just a southernism?

 

drivers side . front , just above oil pan on block.

 

Huge 53 on the passenger side below and a bit behind the oil filter.

 

Mines the same place as Scotty's

 

If you have to look hard for it, you don't have 53 block... It's plain as day if you're laying in front of the driver's tire looking up towards the block.

 

Looking up from the front of the left-front tire, towards the block, on a 1999. :'(



Chris

 

Its even bigger on the passenger side on mine.
The numbers are probably double that size.

 

I'm afraid to look at mine. Are all of the 53 blocks bad or just have the potential?

 

I'm finally convinced that I DON'T have a "53" block. ;D 8) ;D Thanks everyone, and thanks Stamey for the pic.

 

[quote author=Dieseldude4x4 link=board=4;threadid=19483;start=0#msg183716 date=1063324655]
I'm afraid to look at mine. Are all of the 53 blocks bad or just have the potential?
[/quote]

Just potential, I think the actual percentage of failures is quite small.

 

Which year trucks will you find the "53" blocks?
Is it a 24V engine only thing?

I have a 95 (12V), and I looked this afternoon. All I saw on the drivers side was "7 18W" and on the passenger side all I saw was "ABC".

Rich

 

My 53 is on the passenger side and the numbers are almost an inch high. I think that this is just a 24 Valve issue and most of the 53 blocks were put into motorhomes and busses (which have the higher rates of failures). Block were used between 98 and 2001 (mines a 2001).

From what Ive heard, they normally crack under hard use, heavy towing, or heavy fuelling.