Making a 53 Block live?

ACFarmer

ACFarmer

On to the next project
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Messages
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Looking at a 99 24 valve with a 53 block. Truck is optioned the way I want and is the color I want. Only downfall is the block. Truck has 260K on it already and owner says hes pulled upwards of 30K pounds and the truck has seen around 45 to 50 pounds of boost before. My line of thought would be if its lasted this long and see those types of situations it should be ok. Bascially buying it to be my DD and farm truck for the most part. So it will tow heavy sometimes but I dont plan on building it to 750 horse or anything. Thoughts on it? Anything to do to make one live longer?
 
Just run it. I had one come in yesterday for a headgasket at 270K and it turned out to be a cracked block with a fresh JB Weld job. Kid that brought it in just bought it Saturday.....
 
I've got 259k on mine. I never realy baby it. It's no power house, buy any means. But i have gotin in it cold and took off. Not leting it warm up.

I would put a water bypass kit in it. But for the most part, some are good and some are bad. You just never know.
 
CSnyder said:
Just run it. I had one come in yesterday for a headgasket at 270K and it turned out to be a cracked block with a fresh JB Weld job. Kid that brought it in just bought it Saturday.....
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Damn that sucks....

Sounding like its nothing to be overally scared of. I figure it shoulda cracked by now if it was going to, plus its got everthing else I want. Unless you can put one together for me Chris:lolly:
 
One thing to realize is that when a block cracks it doesnt hurt the guts. Its pretty simple to find a new block for cheap and rebuild the old guts into a good engine again on the cheap side. New rings and bearings arent too bad priced IMHO. Pretty basic tools to rebuild one and torque specs can be had easily.
 
If it's been towed heavy and has that many miles on it and no leaks, it's likely never going to break.
In other words, if it hasn't crapped in the bed by now, it's likely not going to pee in it later. :hehe:

Mark.
 
CSnyder said:
One thing to realize is that when a block cracks it doesnt hurt the guts. Its pretty simple to find a new block for cheap and rebuild the old guts into a good engine again on the cheap side. New rings and bearings arent too bad priced IMHO. Pretty basic tools to rebuild one and torque specs can be had easily.
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Yeah I know, just a matter of finding another block and having the truck down while I switch everything you know? But I'm thinking its nothing to be worried about.
 
If it does crack I know a guy who can weld it and make it live. He welded a 7.3 block that was cracked real bad and its still running around here somewhere.
 
Always funny how scared people are of these things. I've owned a few now and never been scared. One had a long crack(welded back to good and drive it everydaywithout warmup), two had high miles and abuse and didn't crack, one had 700+ hp.
 
Well the truck I was looking at was alot rougher than described so I'm still on the hunt. But this is al good info.
 
if its going to fail, it will fail. There isn't much you can do to stop it. Some fail early some never fail.
 
First thing I did to mine was threw a 4k quad adren on it and a good clutch. Like everyone else says if it's gonna blow it's gonna blow. Just baby it when it's cold and take as good of care to it as you can. When you buy it just keep in mind at anypoint in time it might need an engine. When I bought my 53block truck I all but seaid "challenge accepted" I don't cut mine any slack and run 45+psi of boost and more then 4,000 rpm on the street. Dont let the engine scare you. I'm currently building a small set of twins for mine and looking for injectors. Best thing forthese engines is to run it like anything else.
 
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these blocks are very confusing, some explode at 60k miles, others explode at 300k miles, some never explode. they are just a very strange block. the truck i owned before the one in my profile pic had a 53 block in it with 150k miles, my buddy above me (samaras diesel) has one with 210k miles, his brothers truck is 53 block with 230k miles on it. some last, some dont. you just never know
 
There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to wether or not they crack, although I read somewhere there are different production stampings on the 53's and there were good 53's and weak 53's built out of the same plant, just different molds.
 
Thought one mold was from Mexico and the other from Canada..... My 53 block has 235k on it now. It's my daily driver, so far so good. Hope it stays thy way haha. Also have a 53 block out of a wrecked truck that has 285k and no cracks either.
 
I just finished replacing one yesterday that had 295k on it before it cracked. I don't think there is any way to ensure they don't crack.
 
I believe cracking it has to do with the amount of core shift the casting has. The more core shift it has the thinner the water jacket wall is on the passenger side. That's why not all 53 blocks are a problem. I've had one before as well. Rode hard, put away wet. Never had a problem with the block, the VP44 on the other hand........... :thumbdown:

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk 2
 
my 01 was a 53 block, dynoed 604 horse and 1290 torque and saw 65 psi boost on a daily basis. never had a problem. just run it, if it feels like cracking then it will crack regardless of driving style/power.
 
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