cummins 53 block
#1
06-25-2010, 07:12 AM
#6
10-31-2010, 04:21 AM
Diesel Bomber
I have 258k and over 500 hp on mine, not a single crack. Keep in mind that only 1 percent of the hundred ofthousands of 53 blocks made actually crack. and from my research over the years, the only ones ive seen or heard of cracking have less than 100K milles and the block thickness in the freeze plug between numbers 3 and 4 cylinders measure less than .253. Im not the only one with these findings, TDR magazine did a huge right up on this topic a year or so ago with the same or close to data. Now does that mean that once you get to 101K that you are in the clear, I can't answer tha and be 100 percent. However, according to several sources, the thickest block known to crack measured. 253.the standard thickness from cummins was supposed to be .256. Keep in mind that 53 blocks can be found in tons of applications from cranes, to trucks, to genrators and even boats with less than one percent of those cracking, most in the trucks.
So unless its cracked already, id drive it till it does or the body rusts off the frame, which is much more likely to happen than the block cracking
So unless its cracked already, id drive it till it does or the body rusts off the frame, which is much more likely to happen than the block cracking
Last edited by dukeboy_318; 10-31-2010 at 04:25 AM.
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kerley (11-13-2010)
#7
10-31-2010, 09:41 AM
Mine has 140K on it and no cracks to date. it gets abused pretty hard throughout the winter pushing snow. I used to worry about it but then read an article saying that only 1% of the 53 blocks actually cracked and the casting thickness cracks were as mentioned before. between water jackets and then from water jacket to the exterior. once they do this they will "Mark their territory" with a little antifreeze but thats about it. and Block sealer will generally cure it. they are no more prone to catastrophic failure than a not 53 block. the ratio of blocks cracked through to a combustion cylinder are no higher than other casting #'s. 53's just tend to experience a few more incontinence issues as they age 
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kerley (11-13-2010)
#10
11-13-2010, 08:56 AM
What is the "53" block?
The "53" comes from a casting number on the side of the block and is used to identify the problem blocks. Supposedly it affects about 100,000 blocks, but not only in Dodge Rams. Here is information regarding the castings from a thread on TDR:
53 Block FAQ and Information
The "53" comes from a casting number on the side of the block and is used to identify the problem blocks. Supposedly it affects about 100,000 blocks, but not only in Dodge Rams. Here is information regarding the castings from a thread on TDR:
53 Block FAQ and Information
