Greenlee

Thanks Mike, I think some buyers get off base considering the number of blocks made that were 53 castings, they were found in the 12 valve Cummins and all the way up to 2001 and I saw an article where a 2002 said he had one in his truck. The thing is if you had one and let's say it's going to crack or already has, do you pour gasoline on it and lite it up or do you start looking for ways to repair it. I started out welding cast iron in 1972 with Oxy/Acetylene but in the late 1990s McKay had some cast rods that made it easy to repair cast. You need to peen it with a dull chipping hammer, good insurance. I'm sure there are some reasonable places that can do this. I've seen some individuals poor in the stop leak and keep driving it until they get a used block. What I'm trying to get across is it's not the end of the world, you deal with it. Hope you are doing great Sir and thank you for this Forum Most want a 4x4 and I think it would already be sold if it was a 4x4 but some are happy on the road with 2x4 depending on application. Considering the price I STARTED at, $13,780.00 and all you don't have to deal with buying a used truck I thought it was fair

Too bad I didn't know you from the forum at the time, We would have had you over for dinner. Know the spot well, Soup is delicious as well as the chicken. Great Christian Organization. Too bad the Airports are banning them because of being Christian. It has really gotten out of hand with the ungodly dems and liberals who hate this country and our military. God Bless the USA and our men and women in uniform. It's 4x2 Quad Cab 5 speed short bed. Well I just found the Choose Files, what I saw before was a URL??? Anyway this is what it looks like and is on Craigslist Mobile AL and Autotrader, both are running out so I'll have to renew the add.

Located in Theodore, Alabama just a few miles west of Mobile AL. I have it listed on Autotrader, seems to be a waste of money. I listed it months ago with a simple add, no details or mention of records. No calls at all. When I first bought this truck in 2013 I paid a little under 10K at a lot. Drove it 250 miles and it all crapped out. The VP44 was shot and the lift pump was in the tank. It took me over 3 months to raise the money to buy the parts, didn't know anything about Cummins. Bought a Blue Chip Special X and a Raptor 100. Pretty pricy once I got started. As usual I didn't have a clue that this was going to happen. Talked to the car lot about it, famous reply, Sorry to hear that but you bought it "Sold As Is", good luck. My brother is the one who was restoring it, The money I put in it was necessary to get it back on the road. All the new parts and work that was done is All the PARTS and WORK the new owner will not have to be concerned with. Yes, there are still things that can go bad but if someone was selling a truck like this with all the records, mileage, and receipts of what's been done I would have jumped on it. That's just me thought, they say a sucker is born every minute and the car salesmen swing the doors wide open when they walk in. The little bit of horsepower from the VP44 Special X makes a huge improvement. This truck is not slow at all and pulls really strong. I'm considering dropping the price a little again just to sell it. It's not too often you have a solid 20 year old truck with a pile of money and parts that is clean outside and inside and runs as good as it gets.

I have tried that as well, people are waiting at the ones around Mobile, AL yards that are U Pull IT for parts of any kind. First things on the not running trucks is rip the dash out by any means available. If one is in running condition I'm certain it will go fast. Do you remember where on Airport you worked?

No offence taken at all from anyone, if I can't seek advice here regardless if it's negative or positive then there is no point asking. Maybe it's just me but I have never bought a single vehicle with the exception of a 64 Dodge Polara slant six and a 1975 Honda 2-Door Accord 5 speed that you didn't have to dump some or a pile of money into? Looking at the list of all the work that's been done and knowing that all the receipts are included to back it up makes me believe that someone out there would see a great deal. If you buy a truck like mine say for $8,000.00 get it home and start looking close at what needs to be done it soon adds up. Maybe you noticed some issues after driving it for a few weeks and it leaves you on the side of the road. What could possibly go wrong? Maybe the VP44, Lift Pump, Alternator, Water Pump, ECM, Radiator, Carrier Bearing, Shocks, Brake Pads, Rotors, Wheel Bearings, Harmonic Balancer, Leaking Fuel lines at the TEE, Draw Straw, Wheel Bearings, etc., and who in there right mind offers a brand new Bergeson High Volume Power Steering Pump with the New Hose Set included and an extra Raptor 150 Frame Mount Lift Pump with wiring harness but no brackets (See Eric at Vulcan Diesel, Around $47.00). I guess I need a session with a shrink because my thought process sure hasn't worked. I was going to lower the price but now I'm thinking of leaving it alone or increasing it. It runs great, very strong clean all the way around but it's just a truck that is 20 years old. Can't blame anyone for passing it up even if it would save money in the long run. Having the records doesn't mean a thing, it's the bottom line price. Funny thing is I know I'll come off the price. I hate trying to sell cars or trucks and I agree that maybe it's best to put the pictures out there and a price and that's it. No records or details at all. I have seen some trucks going for $13,000 but they are all jacked up with big tires and a line of all the hot rod parts put on them. Most Dodge Ram Diesels 2nd Gens in what I consider horrible shape, body damage, paint, tires, interior shot and so on are asking $6,000 to $8,000 and a few are sitting at $4,500. Don't know if they run or not. I've got to keep the Faith and believe sooner or later it will sell to the right person. I drove it yesterday, again with braces I hit the brake pedal 3 times and missed the accelerator pedal more than that, I can't feel the bottom of my feet but raising the steering wheel up all the way I can glance down at the pedals but I still don't get my feet in the right positions and I think I could easily cause an accident. I really hate to sell it and I know it will make someone very happy once they drive it. Anyway thanks for all the replies, I tried to put them all together but it didn't work for me. I guess that's why I was a welder fabricator for 40 plus years and not a car salesman. I'd post some pictures but not sure how that works or how to do it.

I'm sorry DRipley, I thought I put that in, $11,000.00. I started thinking about it last night and decided to just drop the price to sell it. This way if any cracks appeared down the road the lower price would make up for the sale. I don't know what a good bottom line would be. I'm tired of dealing with it. One thing about it is a lot of good parts have been put on that the new owner will not have to worry about. It's about half and half what my brother put in it and what I put in it. I thought if you had a set of engine serial numbers or maybe VIN number that was above a certain range you were good to go. This truck towed a RV up until the time I bought it in 2013. I would have thought it would have cracked by now if it was going to. Surprising to see that the 53 casting can be found in some 2002 Dodge Ram trucks, and think of the school buses and farm equipment and other vehicles that all had 53 blocks. I thought I saw where there were some 55 castings that cracked from Mexico as well. Sorry again, I have it listed for $11,000.00. Mentioned to Mr. dripley that maybe I should just drop the price, I'm already taking a big hit. I started out at $13,750.00 and decided it was too much. Now I'm at $11K but I will still try and work with a buyer. I feel the same way, if it breaks I fix it and go on about my business, end of story.

All my attempts to explain the 53 casting number from Brazil that affected about 100,000 blocks that are prone to crack under stress of towing seems to have failed. I have been trying to sell my 1999 Cummins but one questions that shuts down the sale is the 53 Casting Number. The original owner towed a bumper pull RV from coast to coast for the first 150K miles, NO CRACKS. I have explained that it's not just the 1999s that cracked but some 12 valves with 53 blocks and 24 valves all the way to 2001. Some blocks that cracked were 54 castings and 55 castings according to what's online. Maybe there has been more castings, who knows? Are all 53s subject to cracking? If that's true then most second generation trucks are going to crack under towing conditions. is there any light at the end of the RAM TUNNEL? Is there any information out there that I can share with a buyer that would put the 53 casting to rest? Any advice at all on the 53 block castings that would help me? Here is my add for my truck, I forgot to add that the Carrier Bearing was new and a few new parts that I couldn't remember without pulling out the mountain of receipts and going through them again. I didn't mention that the original owner towed a RV out to Oregon, Florida, Utah, and other places. ADD: This Dodge is in excellent condition inside and out with 206,355 miles. Paint is great. It's a SLT Laramie. I am selling my truck because I can no longer drive it. It has a camper top included with locking rear window and tailgate. It is accident free in excellent condition inside and out. The dash is perfect. Everything works as it should. It gets great fuel mileage approx 18 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Fill ups for the past 2 years. I have the maintenance records since new and my records since 2013 when I bought it. A/C is ice cold; power driver seat; heated power mirrors; sun visors with vanity mirrors/lights; premium factory radio; cruise control; no tears in the seats. Head liner excellent. Work done: upper and lower ball joints; gas shocks; ceramic disc brakes; bearings; rotors; new shoes; HD Aluminum radiator; new hoses; new alternator; water pump; sensors replaced for reliability; rebuilt turbo (Midwest Turbo) with upgraded compressor wheel; high torque starter; Fluidamper ($400) replaced the harmonic balancer; rebuilt ECM; fuel lines rebuilt; Interstate batteries; Blue Chip VP44 injector pump; Raptor 150 lift pump; new draw straw in the fuel tank. It cranks immediately. It is a strong running Dodge Diesel that would make a great Hot Shot Truck or a family truck for towing. I have a new Borgeson Hi Flow power steering pump ($195) and a new spare in the box PureFlow Raptor 150 ($400) frame mounted lift pump but no brackets, Call Eric at Vulcan Diesel performance online for brackets. Simply put I am physically not able to finish what I have started. It does not use oil and is seldom below a half quart low at 7,000 miles. You buy USED and begin fixing what they don't tell you, I have $20K in parts and Labor, The BUYER is way ahead of the game buying this truck. 2 items don't work, passenger side overhead light and overhead trip computer. The Bezel at the steering wheel has a crack that I put epoxy on. I've put 140 miles on it since August of 2018. GREAT DEAL I don't see a big deal with this truck, I think it would have already cracked by now, am I not thinking straight on this? Thanks for the help

I think what you all are saying is what I need to do. Somebody who know diesels might say something about the smoke but it still runs extremely strong. Would DAP be the best place to look at stock injectors? I'd rather knock some off the price and let the new owner deal with it but regardless if I buy or reduce the price it would be great for me. Thanks Mike I sincerely hope you are healing well, your in our prayers. I considered doing that but need to think it through. I did find a shop across the bay that is very reliable, I might go when I can and talk with them. I hate to say it but I had a melt down recently, maybe more shock than a melt down. Before the bone spur flared up I had a 2nd neck fusion, it has really been one surgery that helped me with the horrific pain I deal with daily. I'm 67 and it all came into focus, I'm never going to be what I was, too much damage with nerves and muscles from a failed surgery 14 years ago. My feet don't work right, my legs are gone, my arms look like I'm 80 and my strength left a long time ago. Started lifting a 3 pound medicine ball, could only muster 5 times over my head, after 3 weeks I'm up to 20. No pity party, it is what it is and I have begun to look at it based on reality and what's possible for me to achieve. Started a steroid pack for the spur and see the doctor again in 4 weeks to get an MRI but I'm hoping and praying I'll be able to get my brace back on and get past this. The pain as you stated is beyond what you would imagine. I'm going to get an engine lift that folds up to help me lift items I need moved around in my garage, doesn't matter if 30 pounds is my lifting limit as long as I can work the handle on the lift or what ever I'm using a tool. I'm adjusting how I do things and maybe it's about time I did because I'm spinning my wheels thinking a gym or weight machine will be a make over for me. It will all work out in good time according to what God has planned for me. You can't go down the right path if you don't listen to directions and what's being spoken to you. It was a hard pill to swallow but living in the past thinking you will be something that you're not is simply put a waste of time. Get with the program and let it work for you. Thanks for all the great advice

That's why I'm asking and what you are saying about smoke with DDP is absolutely correct, My biggest worry was putting them in and looking like a freight train with a for sale sign on it. Performance is still really good but way more smoke than normal through the gears. I'll be lucky to get half of what I paid for the DDPs or maybe less but it's better than letting it sit in a closet. I'll see if I can find a boost leak. Thank you for the reply

Okay, I hate to start a new thread because I know some where there is already an answer for what I'm going to ask. I have reached to point of trying to drive the 1999 Dodge Ram Cummins Quad Cab SLT Laramie 5 speed. I simply can't find a safe way to operate the clutch while wearing leg braces. I hate to see it go because of the amount of work and money that's been put into it already. I haven't been able to walk for the past 5 or 6 weeks because of the rotten bone spur at my Achilles Tendon. I want to be honest about selling it but something I noticed that my brother pointed out was a slight knocking sound when he brought it back to me in August of 2017. He thought it was the rear-end but I think it's injectors. It always had a little black haze with the Blue Chip Special X VP44 that was installed I guess in 2013. Now It blows a trail of smoke when putting your foot in it through all the gears except 5th. The engine is loud, like valve lash but it was all adjusted out about 2 years ago and from the time I bought it in 2013 it had 155,000 miles on it and is now showing 207,354. The original owner towed a bumper hitch with it across country, it's a 53 block but no cracks at anytime. The injectors are original but the fuel system was shot when I bought it since it went 250 miles before leaving me on the side of the road. VP44 was shot and the lift pump was shot. So I'm asking if the towing could have caused the injectors to wear down a little faster? The owner did keep all the maintenance up with dealerships as he traveled and so my brother. I didn't put that many miles on it so I only had a couple of fluid changes. I have a set of 50 hp injectors made by Dynamite Diesel, they were 75 hp but they retuned them to 50 hp, BAR is 291 and LPM 41. I don't mind getting them put in, I had planned on selling them on eBay but probably would never come close to getting my funds back, $800.00 Plus. Any advice is appreciated, thanks

I understand and hope you continue to have pain free days and years from the spurs

Thanks Dripley, Funny story about bone spurs, a Boilermaker brother came by to bring an old desk from the 1960's so I could make a work table out of it. I'm hobbling one step and a drag of my right leg at a time and told him I had a flare up of an existing bone spur that is on my heel touching the Achilles Tendon. The pain is beyond explanation and nobody can assist you trying to walk because you are clumsy anyway. My friend told me about a bone spur he had about 12 years ago shaped like a chicken beak pushing through a tendon on the bottom of his foot. Now he is out of town working so options are limited. The orthopedic doctor he was going to see was not approved by insurance so he went to a podiatrist who looks at it and says he can help him with it. Now if you are anyone has ever experienced a spur you know that touching it is out of the question, you don't even want a fly to land on it. So the podiatrist pulls out a device with 2 metal or hard plastic roller balls with a little gel to make it move easy. He said he almost wet his pants but he got through it, rolling that device back and forth over the spur. No comfort at all. Next visit in 2 days, same treatment. This continued for a couple more visits and then he gave my friend the roller ball from hell and said you continue this until it goes away. After a couple of weeks it started feeling great but he said in the process it felt like a piece of glass broke and the spur flattened. What happened is it was growing through a tendon. After he flattened it he has had no issues for 12 years now. Long before he came over that afternoon I limped to the kitchen and there was a little bag of garbage that my wife said she would take out when she got home. So I picked it up and was heading for the garage. As I opened the garage door I stumbled and went the length of the garage to the garage door before catching myself. This crazy move extended and stretched my ankle, the pain was horrible and all I could think is my wife is going to kill me. About 30 minutes later I noticed my heel and foot still hurt but it felt better. I'm thinking that it separated the tendon from the bone spur and actually helped. So I didn't sleep much last night but when I got up I was walking better still dragging my foot but not as bad. I just don't know if I can stand getting a hard object and rubbing across my heel. Dripley, no one else would understand any of this so if you get it that's all that counts and I'll get back on the topic. Good talking with you.

I'll look at that as soon as I can, an existing bone spur on my right heel has taken over. I guess from the longer walking to the different ball fields where my grandson's play TEE-Ball and Baseball. I am sorry to complain about things but sometimes you feel like you are backing up and that is a state of mind you have to work past or it will move you back. I am thankful for every response from the few questions I have at times. My injectors and gauges did not sell so I am going to put them on the truck and drive it. Smoke or no smoke when I get the pedal modified to work for me. I need a set of tires and have got 50K out of the Firestone's on it now. I guess that's not too bad. I'm thinking of buying the brackets and mounting the new Raptor 150 on the frame with a new harness. Should last me the rest of my life. At least there is always something to work on or a project in mind, never a dull moment. Thanks everyone.

Now is when I wish I knew how to use Fusion 360 to throw it out there, Well my wife and kids (grown) aren't too happy about me keeping the Dodge because it's not automatic and I can't walk without falling if I don't have the leg braces on. You can't look at your feet every time you shift it's worse than texting and driving to me. One back fusion blazed the trail for me to end up with so many issues. When a doctor says he will have you up and running in 6 weeks....get out as fast as you can. Your right, it's an easy thing to do and takes the guess work to know if there is air in the system or not. thanks

No air in the lines but I guess I could bleed them out or let someone bleed them out just to make sure, It sounds like most of the manual transmissions have the same characteristics with the pedal going to the floor or close to it. Did you have to turn your foot sideways to get on the pedal to push it down? I'm going to post a picture of this when I get done with it. Simple and clean and as long as it works no worries. I understand completely what you were dealing with, I got rid of some tailgaters staying too close. Didn't mean to hit the brakes but it is easy to do with braces on. I'm not going to bend the pedal, I'm going to get a second pedal to sit next to the existing pedal towards the door. I'll bend it and twist it back around so it will saddle the clutch pedal with a second piece wrapping around both held in place with set screws. I see it in my head now just can't explain it. WOW that sounds familiar if I don't say so myself. lol