Im lookin to upgrade to a 24V from a 12V and im looking at a truck about 200 miles away, I requested that they look under the truck to see what the 2 numbers that are stamped in the block are... (trying not to buy a 53 block) And they said they looked on the passenger side of the truck on the block just above the oil pan and there is no numbers on it??.... Am i telling them to look on the right area of the block???? Or are techs at Dodge dealers that bad these days?? Thanks!

 

Thought it was on the drivers side.

 

They don't all have the large numbers, but if it's a 53 or 55 it will be there. Unless the tech is an older Cummins owner/enthusiast they wouldn't know what you're talking about anyways. The casting # means nothing from a tech point of view.

 

Sometimes its on the drivers side, ...sometimes on the passenger side, or so Ive been told. Then, theres the mexican block. It doesnt have the two castting numbers. There is a small string of numbers and jibberish caracters. The block itself has a couple differnt caracteristics too, but I dont know.

 

The 53's I've seen have been on the drivers side above the oil pan. You have to look from underneath with a flashlight.

 

If it is a 2002 ,or newer it will not have a "53"block .
there are literally thousands of "53" blocks out there that have had no problems.But as with anything else the bad news is always being broadcast. (Worry more about fuel pressure)

 

"upgrading" to a 24V from a 12V isnt really upgrading. I have one of each.

Some of the casting numbers are hard to find.

 

*Snort* Yeah. Welcome to the world of crappy lift pumps and unreliable injection pumps. Yeah yeah yeah, we all know someone that got 6 billion miles out of their original vp44. We all probably also know someone who has been abducted by aliens.

Is it that you're trying to get one new enough to have rear disk brakes? That's the only thing I can think of, well that and the interior change that happened in '98.

 

yea them 53 blocks are real bad put 275k on the last one i had it must of had a 53 body because it started to break. not sure if the wifes is a 53 cuz it dont really matter if gonna break it will do it. it is on the drivers side

 

That is not totally correct - my 53 is on BOTH sides.

 

I own a 01 with a 125,000 miles, an it friggin runs strong.

 

They finaly found it, its a ''55'' block.. Any bad reports about those? Thanx

 

Any bad reports? Are you kidding? If you know enough to look for them you know they are potentially a very bad thing to have.....

Take a look here and you'll know all you'd ever want to know about the wonderful "53".

 

JBODY - I got undermine sometime ago with the printout of the 53 block web page and a flashlight. I couldn't find hardly a number anywhere. Mine's an early build 2000 model, with a 6 speed built in Saint Louwie. I wouldn't think I'd have a Mexican block, because the truck wasn't built in Mexico. But I realize that is not necessarily so.

Anyway, I'm wondering if you can tell me a) what the chances are that I have a 53 block, and (b) where to look for other numbers that would confirm that I don't have a 53 block. Either way, the truck is doing great at 105k. Thanks.

- JyRO

 

it took me awile...i was looking about 6inches too left...try to look a little left, and i'll take a pic later and point it out