Sleeving cylinders

[Sand hauler]

Can anyone explain why would a block be sleeved straight through with out leaving a step at the top or bottom of the cylinder? Have a 391 CX scratch ft block that has three of them in it . Was pulled out of a 72 f600 that still had the remanufactured tag on it. Is there any way to fix it other than pinning the sleeves?

[CaptCobrajet]

You could put flanged sleeves in it

[Sand hauler]

Like a wet sleeve? Wonder what the cost would be?

[jayb]

I think back in the day, that's how a lot of shops did it.  I have a 428 CJ block that has been sleeved that way, been running great since 1982. 

[Sand hauler]

I think back in the day, that's how a lot of shops did it.  I have a 428 CJ block that has been sleeved that way, been running great since 1982. 

Is it pinned ? , Wasn't sure how it would hold up on a stroker build.
By the way,how's the new head package coming along?

[wowens]

Back in the day when 427 blocks were available but we were broke. In a backyard one car shop I sleeved many blocks without a step. Used a boring bar that centered its self to the cylinder with 3 air activated fingers then bolted to the deck. Blocks were painted black, laid on plywood in the sun, sleeves had a small champher in the bottom, put in freezer then pressed in with a 12 lb hammer and a block of wood. Used the same boring bar to cut off top of sleeve and bore to size.Won a lot of street races and only blowup was result of dropping a sodium filled exhaust in a tunnelport. Engines back then were not built as close to the ragged edge as they are now and made nowhere near the horsepower as now.

[machoneman]

I think back in the day, that's how a lot of shops did it.  I have a 428 CJ block that has been sleeved that way, been running great since 1982.

I agree with Jay's answer as pretty much all the Chicago area shops in that era did do sleeving that way. Chevy, Chrysler, Ford oriented shops...made no difference. 

[Barry_R]

If its been that way forever it's probably gonna stay in place.
Shops used to use a ton of press fit and smash them into place with a BFH and a block of wood.
Probably raised enough burrs and smeared metal that most stayed jammed into position.
We are a little more elegant about installation these days

[Yellow Truck]

BFH - haven't seen or heard that term before. I like it, my favourite tool. Think I'll go use mine to put some rebar in the ground today.

[Sand hauler]

Thanks guys, didn't realize it was that common to install them that way, back then. Was afraid I was going to have to scrap it or pour a ton of money into saving it.

[jayb]

Is it pinned ? , Wasn't sure how it would hold up on a stroker build.
By the way,how's the new head package coming along?

No pins. 

Poured the most recent iteration of the heads last week, should be heat treated so I can machine them in a week or so.  Ordered pistons for the test dyno engine.  Still moving forward, won't be too much longer...

[Sand hauler]

Is it pinned ? , Wasn't sure how it would hold up on a stroker build.
By the way,how's the new head package coming along?

No pins. 

Poured the most recent iteration of the heads last week, should be heat treated so I can machine them in a week or so.  Ordered pistons for the test dyno engine.  Still moving forward, won't be too much longer...

Good to hear, would like to have a set of those for a 427 based build,but all in due time lol

[Falcon67]

Thanks guys, didn't realize it was that common to install them that way, back then. Was afraid I was going to have to scrap it or pour a ton of money into saving it.

Thats why I tossed the 429 block I had - To tank, bore, sleeve one bad cylinder and deck was $1400 locally.  Block was full of rust on one side so could not even be sure it'd be OK to go .030 over in the first place.  Can buy a .040 over 460 block ready to go - cam bearings, line honed, etc from Competition Products for $950 plus shipping,   Of course, can't do that with old 427s so the economic trade off will be different.

>We are a little more elegant about installation these days
LOL, that's what Jarrett at the machine shop said also.  I noted that my 351C block that is in the dragster had a sleeve in it.  No issues with it at all, have no idea who did it or when.