Caterpillar Engine Serial Lookup

If possible check the serial number that is cast on the lower passenger side of the block and see if it matches that valve cover

 

Jimmy I have that same sticker on my 5ek, which basically has same info and numbers like yours. My year is 1996 also, but build date 5-96 and 11,361 engines above yours.

I had my horsepower verified at cat when I bought truck in 02. It is set at 475, 1650 torque. It runs super strong and always has. It will run with 550 cats all day long. It is in a t-600 and mileage has been good.

With the good mileage and power I got I wonder if I have the pre low nox file where you probably got the low nox file which kills power and mileage.

 

I don't mean to scare you but unfortunately when my truck hit about 1.1 million the crank broke which I am told some of those engines were prone to that and higher horsepower applications. It looked like my crankshaft dampener was original which probably didn't help either.

 

The dampers on 5ek motors were notorious for going bad the fluid gets hard in them and in turn the damper no longer takes the vibrations out and the crank snaps.

There's a few places that make a replacement damper for these motors that last a lot longer. But I'd say at the 500-750k mark it needs to be replaced to be on the safe side

 

That I'm not sure on you'd have to be able to get an impact in there past the rad and idk if that's possible.

I believe you may be able to unbolt the upper supports and lowers pull the rad out and that may give you enough extra room without actually pulling the radiator but I can't say for sure.

I kept thinking there is a made in the USA damper on the market for about $750 that had a good reputation mine was replaced during the overhaul with a cat damper so I haven't done much research on them in the past few years

 

Vibratech makes a damper. They were $500-$550 + shipping back when I bought one about 4 or 5 years ago.