i am looking to buy a 98.5 cummins at 4x4 3500 its got a 170 miles its all stock i aint seen the truck yet going to look at it next weekend i am just worried because of the 53 block it looks like a nice truck i was just going to see what yall guys had to say about it thanks for any help

 

just to clarify a bit

the 98 is a 12 valver and the 98.5 is a 24 valver

mechanical vs. electronic

 

sorry its a 98.5 24 valver

 

Have you detirmined that it is a 53 block, I would start there and if it were I would probably avoid it, unless it's a steal.

 

if its a 98.5-99 its most deff a 53 block. but i have to say there are mixed emotions on the 53 block yes its a little thinner, but if its taken care of right you prolly wont have a problem. mines a 53 block. 170k and no cracks. runs over 80 psi of boost and nitrous. if they were weak as everyone wants to say they are i think mine would have come apart long ago. ive been running it like this on the track and pulling sleds for roughly 4 years. its been setting on 80 psi wot for 3 of those 4 years. and now has a quad 4k turning it to 4380 on data logger. still no issues.

 

the guy looked under the pump it said 53 on it and ya i can get it pretty cheap its got 170 miles 4x4 with 22.5s on it i have talked to alot of guys and not many of them talk bad about the 53 block i got a 97 cummins and a 2001 cummins i just dont wanna miss out on a good deal but dont want it to come back and bit me in the butt

 

if the block hasnt cracked yet then it will be OK

do you know where to look for cracks?

 

ya under the turbo at the back of the block right

 

dont quote me on this one, but I have read a few posts and questions about the 53 block and i do believe that i read somewhere that only like 1% of them crack? can someone back me up on this?

 

check out this tech article

https://www.dieselbombers.com/cummin...-53-block.html