Just found a new used 1998.5 2500 5 speed 4X4 with 90K. I was happy to find this truck that had only a single owner, 80 year old who traded this in for a new one with an automatic.

Lightly used and I got a good price for it. Took it home, did some research only to find out about the dreaded 53 block. I know, I should have researched that before I bought it. I swear I poured through all of the sites and never found anything on the 53 block.

It is a 53 block, argh, but NOT cracked.

So, I purchased this truck for a work truck and to haul a 2500 # slide in camper probably 75% of the time. Was planning on doing some off road, nothing major, just 4X4 roads that no RV's would ever attempt.

Now, I'm wondering what to do. Is this a liability, is it going to crack? My research indicates that their have been at least 20 blocks minimum that I've discovered that have cracked. One site said 1% of them cracked, another speculated that 5% do. I don't think I can rely on those figures. It may be 90% as far as I can tell. Reading stuff on the internet can be detrimental to your health. Tends to blow up little issues into giant issues. If my block cracks, that would be a giant issue for me, since it'll cost more to fix it than I paid, and I am not flush in cash.

Most of the sites say it's all about warming the block in advance of towing. Worse case would be to start cold and start towing a heavy load. So, I won't do that. Using a heater block sounds like a good idea too, I do live in Idaho. So at this point, I'll get a block heater.

I wonder what else I can do to mitigate this expensive proposition or should I just ditch it and get another one without a 53 block.

Any ideas, thoughts, words of wisdom?
purplhay