Thread: Sleeve block back to standard bore, what do you think?

Tweet

If, and a pretty big IF---the block is rare, hard to get, nothing else available, then sleeving all 8 cylinders is maybe the only option--I once sleeved one of our 392 hemis in all eight holes just to find out if it would work--we named it Metullsa??(snake headed goddess?)

We used it just as a qualifying engine at the drag races so we could go into the first round with a fresh motor---when we worked on it , the sleeves were so loose that they would go up and down with the pistons as we put it together or took it apart.

But for a small block chev guy wanting the bigger bore of the 400----4.125, Dart has the SHP that comes .010 under that to finish hone to 4.125 or of course go bigger, and they are reasonably priced

ok thanks guys. I've had a 350 in this car around 15 years now and I can't tell you the times I've said "it's a 350" and the next thing you know there's nobody standing there to talk to. This car is done and I've got other cars I'm trying to build so a complete under hood makeover isn't really my intention here, I'd like to replace the engine with another small block other than a 350. A 327 might be nice but probably too small for my sportsman II heads, 383 is just a 350 on steroids and is starting to be as common as the 350 even though I am leaning a little in that direction. And, I'm having a hard time putting my hands on a 400, which will probably run hot anyway, LOL. So I don't know what I'm going to do at this point. Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by 35chevy

ok thanks guys. I've had a 350 in this car around 15 years now and I can't tell you the times I've said "it's a 350" and the next thing you know there's nobody standing there to talk to. This car is done and I've got other cars I'm trying to build so a complete under hood makeover isn't really my intention here, I'd like to replace the engine with another small block other than a 350. A 327 might be nice but probably too small for my sportsman II heads, 383 is just a 350 on steroids and is starting to be as common as the 350 even though I am leaning a little in that direction. And, I'm having a hard time putting my hands on a 400, which will probably run hot anyway, LOL. So I don't know what I'm going to do at this point. Thanks guys.

That seems like a lot of work just so you can say you don't have a 350, no offense meant. Honestly a small block Chevy is a small block Chevy unless you do something exotic with it. A 400 is gonna look just like a 350/327/383/377/283 etc unless people read your sign or talk with you. If you have a decent 350, why not make it unique with some sort of Fuel injection, forced induction or some other unique induction system. Your situation was one of my motivators to go to my LS1. I had a belly button 350 and even with unique "Studebaker" valve covers it still was "just another 350". I love the LS1, it runs great, gets good mileage and definitely falls into the unique category in my car. Though they are getting more common. still don't see them in every car.

my two cents

good luck with your project

Pat

That seems like a lot of work just so you can say you don't have a 350, no offense meant. Honestly a small block Chevy is a small block Chevy unless you do something exotic with it.

No offense taken....I've got to change the engine anyway, so the work doesn't matter.

How much is a running 400 worth. I have two in mccomb MS about 350 miles away, one is a 76 impala motor still stock with a fairly new crank, it was running but has been sitting in a shed for 19 yrs. The other is in my 68 camaro, It came out of a 77 4x4, don't know about it's bore, i'd have to (keep) the heads (69-70 camel hump with acc holes) It runs, I use it to move the camaro about once a year. I am evintually going to disassemble (to inspect) both of these and get rid of one of them.

Hey Pat, the sleeves I have are 3/32. I was starting to worry because the area between the bores is thin and I thought there was a chance it would be completely removed when cutting the block out for the sleeves. I did some measuring and there will be some material left between the sleeves, just like your pics of the big blocks. It looks like they won't get into the steam holes either. I noticed that you cut all the holes and then put the sleeves in. We thought that because the area left between the sleeves will be so thin, there might be some advantage in cutting one hole, installing the sleeve, and then cutting the next hole. You know, finishing one before starting on the next. Then again, because of the press fit, this might allow for some distortion of the block. If a sleeve is pressed in, the cylinder next to it might not be as true. Does that make sense? What are your thoughts on this. Cutting all the holes first, then installing all the sleeves would definately be faster. Thanks for your help. Oh yeah, The guy helping me is my next door neighbor. He's a retired machinist. He's in his 70's. I guess he got his start on model-A engines? He can handle the job but I'm trying to learn as much from him as possible and do most of the work myself with his guidance. He has sleeved a lot of engines, but never all 8 on a small block chevy, so we are both learning here. Thanks