I recieved a postcard regarding a settled class action on the 53 block,documentation is required to claim a max $500(i know not much) but the crack would have to occured after the 5/100 warranty and before 250k:spend:,but i believe that is you have a 53 block you will recieve one.

Yeah this is ringing all over the web right now...

If that class action was for cracked dash boards there would be a whole lot of happy people.

I recieved a postcard regarding a settled class action on the 53 block,documentation is required to claim a max $500(i know not much) but the crack would have to occured after the 5/100 warranty and before 250k:spend:,but i believe that is you have a 53 block you will recieve one.

Hi Blue, Yep, got mine too. Some other limitations on it 98-01 (1) after the truck was driven 100K (2) more then 5 years after the truck was originally purchased & before the truck was driven 250K. Are the highlights of it. Claim form by Oct. 28, 2012 www.cumminspickupblocksettlement.com Dave Don't think I have one will have to look again!

I wonder if I have to be the original owner? Guy I bought it from knew it was cracked and didn't disclose the information and I didn't know what to look for, which is my fault for not doing my homework. I guess I'll have to wait to see if I get a notice.

Got mine yesterday, Don't know if I have a 53 and not sure if I want to know.:rolleyes:Rick

Don't know much about diesels but have some insight into the 53 block thing (I've got one). If you've got one and you're not losing coolant, then you should check it out. All of the ones I've read about cracked due to either performance add-ons, which equals hard driving, or people hauling heavy loads under semi-extreme conditions. So, if you've got one, you should find out and then avoid the situations that cause the cracks. I've got "only" 210K miles on mine but have read where many people have gotten more than twice that many miles without cracking.

just ask Cajflynn, 1.1 million and still counting. hauling big loads everywhere on a 53 block.

Hi Blue, Yep, got mine too. Some other limitations on it 98-01 (1) after the truck was driven 100K (2) more then 5 years after the truck was originally purchased & before the truck was driven 250K. Are the highlights of it. Claim form by Oct. 28, 2012 www.cumminspickupblocksettlement.com Dave Don't think I have one will have to look again!

I think I said that,but on one point YOU DO NOT have to be the original buyer,as long as you bought before the 5yrs/100k:smart:

If You Purchased or Leased a Model Year 1998-2001 Diesel Dodge Ram Truck, You Could Get up to $500 in Repair Costs From a Settlement

Included trucks are those purchased or leased in the U.S. and originally equipped with a Cummins ISB 5.9 liter, diesel engine built using a “pattern 53” engine block

· If you purchased or leased in the United States, its territories, or possessions a 1998-2001 model year Chrysler Dodge Ram truck, model 2500 or 3500, originally equipped with a Cummins ISB 5.9 liter, diesel engine built using a “pattern 53” engine block, you may be entitled to benefits under a proposed class action settlement.

· Settlement benefits include reimbursement of the cost of repairing or replacing an engine block covered under the settlement (up to, but not exceeding, $500).

I've got a problem with this... Even a used block is going for about $1,500 bucks then you have to pay a mechanic to repmove and rebuild you engine into the new block. What there is like 16 hours of labor to do this and re-install the new block. $500 bucks is not even enough to even buy a block let alone repair it. If I had a 53 block I would got to the court and demand that the y pay for everything block, labor, misc parts, etc!

I figure they're just trimming the fat from the huge number of people affected by this defect. I'm not one to jump on board a lawsuit (don't need the hassel) but could always use $500 I didn't have before. Can buy quite a bit of Coors Lite with $500.

You are forgetting, this is a class action suit. The attorney that filed the action gets his portion of the total award from the court. It would be interesting to see what that portion was...

I wonder if I have to be the original owner? Guy I bought it from knew it was cracked and didn't disclose the information and I didn't know what to look for, which is my fault for not doing my homework. I guess I'll have to wait to see if I get a notice.

Check out the link I posted!

--- Update to the previous post...

I've got a problem with this... Even a used block is going for about $1,500 bucks then you have to pay a mechanic to repmove and rebuild you engine into the new block. What there is like 16 hours of labor to do this and re-install the new block. $500 bucks is not even enough to even buy a block let alone repair it. If I had a 53 block I would got to the court and demand that the y pay for everything block, labor, misc parts, etc!

Yep, agreed! 500 bucks is a lil on the light side!

I had a 98.5 that I bought used and got a notice. The truck is gone and it didn't have the 53 block. A friend of mine had a 99 with the 53 block with over 450hp and drove and towed with it for years with no problem. They didn't all go bad. Then some that were gently used developed a crack.

Don't know much about diesels but have some insight into the 53 block thing (I've got one). If you've got one and you're not losing coolant, then you should check it out. All of the ones I've read about cracked due to either performance add-ons, which equals hard driving, or people hauling heavy loads under semi-extreme conditions. So, if you've got one, you should find out and then avoid the situations that cause the cracks. I've got "only" 210K miles on mine but have read where many people have gotten more than twice that many miles without cracking.

This cracking is due to a defective casting(to thin by the water jacket) Vibration cause's this crack(this engine vibrate's like an ultra sound cleaner)

i just bought a 2001 dually made in mexico. does that mean it has the 53 block or should i buy a lottery ticket?i bought the truck to pull my 5th wheel. it has 235000 kilometers on it. where can i find the number and where does it crack?i still have my 89ford idi just in case. thanks robin

My friend with a 2000 2500 ctd and called me a while back when he got his letter Dodge, asked me to check and see if he had the 53 block. Yep, sure did. He has 130K on it, bought it with 60K on it a few years ago. No crack, (yet). I talked to him last night and asked if he filed the paperwork for his money. He said he threw it away as he said the way he read the paperwork, one has to produce reiceipts for the block replacement in order to qualify. Is this correct? Is this $500 only for those who have lost an engine?

I'm an original owner of 1999 block 53, hasn't cracked with only about 135K miles on motor.  But i never received anything on this...

fillet is a stress concentration, poor design...

 

https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/2994-dodge-ram-cummins-diesel-block-class-action-settlement/