sleeving cylinders

Topic: sleeving cylinders (Read 1835 times) previous topic - next topic

sleeving cylinders

February 02, 2014, 11:14:35 PM

Ive always wanted to protect an engine block by sleeving the cylinders and wondered if there any reason not to do this.
I like the idea of protecting the cylinders for many years to come if all things wear normally.

Ive got another 302 block torn down and going in to the machine shop tomorrow and just wanted to bring this up.
we are punching out the cylinders ,,, then i want to hear back about the sleeves ,, or type of durable sleeve ect that will be removeable later and replaceable.

I have not researched any of this because i figured the answers are floating around here.

I should be starting a new build thread soon,, still havent found a transmission cable or heads yet.

sleeving cylinders

Reply #1 – February 03, 2014, 12:23:16 AM

Unless you're building an all out race engine...would it be cost effective, or even possible on a thin Ford block?

If you're wanting utmost reliability in an otherwise stock block, just get a new block from Ford or somewhere...if they still have 5.0 blocks, that is.

I've personally seen 5.0 engines with well over 400,000 on them with nothing more in depth than timing sets and oil pumps replaced. My '92 F series has 290,000 on it when I sped it, and the engine wasn't a problem.

That Coates rotary valve system would probably do more for engine reliability than sleeving the cylinders, in addition to freeing up parasitic loss of the conventional valvetrain style. Not like you can order one from Jegs though... the luck.

I remember when I was about 15, my dad and I were out on the road (he was a trucker) and one of the sleeves in that cummins started moving.

Well, we sat for a day while the company located another truck to finish load and the trip with.

In my opinion, it's a fix for a problem that is simply not worth the trouble, given the amount of decent and possibly still crazy low mile explorer blocks out there, and/or a new block from a warehouse.

Food for thought, nothing more.

sleeving cylinders

Reply #2 – February 03, 2014, 08:55:50 AM

the machine shop did my intake and exhaust stems with bronze bushings at my request on the sport,, the guides were kinda worn on the GT's we put in the tbird.
now they can be repaired for a fairly unlimited time frame.

i really want to "try" out a few things ive wanted to do on this build. another is my pistons having the compression ring groove big enough for the compression ring plus one oil ring and stagger the gap,, to make zero gap. I expect this would be an easy way to increase the compression.

sleeving cylinders

Reply #3 – February 03, 2014, 11:53:41 AM

Unless you are talking about a block that is rare/expensive to replace sleeving is far from cost effective, toss a spare in the corner and don't worry about it...As mentioned a 5.0 can go 400K mi with regular maintenance and no doubt 200K with spotty maintance...

sleeving cylinders

Reply #4 – February 03, 2014, 01:12:46 PM

My cougar is at 191k and the bird is about 250k. havent even changed the oil since i bought the bird.

To properly sleeve a block, it has to be overbored first. I wouldnt bother unless it was a damaged aftermarket block.

sleeving cylinders

Reply #5 – February 03, 2014, 04:32:05 PM

ok,, got quoted 800 to punch / sleeve today....
im worried the 5.0 blocks are going to become as rare as hens teeth here in short order.... just me thinking ahead of time.

sleeving cylinders

Reply #6 – February 03, 2014, 05:45:32 PM

Quote from: jcassity;428338

ok,, got quoted 800 to punch / sleeve today....
im worried the 5.0 blocks are going to become as rare as hens teeth here in short order.... just me thinking ahead of time.

302/351W blocks should be easy to find for years to come. Just like the Chevy 350 they are everywhere. Plus you can buy brand new 302/351W blocks from Ford Racing.

The standard rebuild should be fine. It'll last a good long time at .030 over, probably just as long as stock.

sleeving cylinders

Reply #7 – February 03, 2014, 08:38:19 PM

As it is right now, you can find way more 5.0 motors in salvage yards than you can the 350. Now, the LT1 and the Vortec 350 are also a little scarce, too, but there's always a ed LS engine somewhere that some goober hasn't plucked yet lol.

sleeving cylinders

Reply #8 – February 03, 2014, 09:05:19 PM

I figured you would get a quote in that price range to sleeve all the cylinders. It adds up when doing all 8. I would just gather up a few spare blocks. You can buy a few $800.

I had a sleeve put in one of my Cleveland blocks which had a split cylinder wall. It saved an otherwise good block. Never had a problem with it after that.

Some of the old Pro Stock racers like, Dyno Don Nicholson, used to have 8 sleeves furnace brazed into the block to make the cylinders stronger to hold up to the abuse they put them through. I believe I saw a quote of several thousand dollars for this procedure in the 70s. They would have to re-machine everything from the heat produced from this procedure.