Activity
Mon
Wed
Fri
Sun
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
What is this?
Less
More

Memberships

CutterUp Diesel Lab

94 members • Free

1 contribution to CutterUp Diesel Lab
53 block and 55 block
I have a 1998.5 dodge truck that has a 53 block with bad main bearings. My brother passed years back and he had bought this truck with a 55 block in it. The 55 block spun a bearing so he rebuilt in our garage and had another bearing go bad in the engine. He had enough with dealing with that block so he just bought an already built “53” block, it has always ran fine doesn’t have a crack in the side. I had a shop replace the turbo on it a couple years ago and not even a week or two later the truck had rod knock from low oil. Not blaming the shop I should’ve checked the oil after getting it back from them. But I had a different shop “rebuild the engine” for me, 9 months and lots of money later the engine still had rod knock and they said that the engine will always have knock for what ever reason. I brought it to another shop they said they wouldn’t do any work on a 53 block for obvious reasons. I am at a point where I have decided I want to take on the job of rebuilding the engine myself ever since I started watching Rob’s videos. I have a good 55 block and crank and then I have the 53. I would like to bring the 55 to the machine shop and put the head and pistons from 53 in it. From everything I have found in my research that will not work because there is no tone ring for the crank position sensor on the 55 crank. Is it possible to have the machine shop drill and tap threads for the two piece tone ring onto the crank or am I able to swap my 53 crank into the 55 block? Also the identification label on the ecm for the 53 block is worn off so I can’t tell if the computer is a 2001 or 1998.5. I would appreciate all info and input on this as I don’t want to waste time and money doing this for it not to work.
0 likes • Apr 24
Do you recommend OEM gaskets and camshaft bushings?
0 likes • 7d
@Robert Winkworth hey Rob I just got a call from the machine shop because I dropped off the head to get milled flat. They told me the head is 4 thou over minimum thickness and the head is warped atleast 2 thou. The head also has fire rings, they don’t have a jig to do the fire rings there so they don’t know much of anything about fire rings. They told me once they are done milling it will probably be right at the minimum thickness for the head. Should I buy a new head?
1-1 of 1
Dillan Reed
1
4points to level up
@dillan-reed-6667
New Hampshire

Active 6d ago
Joined Apr 1, 2026
Powered by