I was looking at installing sleeves since my motor blew since the pieces missing look to me like they could be replaced by a sleeve. The connecting rods ground out a little bit of the block near the crank and 2 pistons where shattered, but the cylinder walls surprisingly dont look bad at all. I will be taking it to a machine shop to install these but I was wondering if anyone has used a sleeve before? I do plan to run nitrous when it gets back (or at least 400rwhp w/ LE2 heads) and hope these sleeves will work so I can re-use the block (IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A NEW LT BLOCK). I am thinking that sleeves would make it easier to run nitrous or a turbo as well... any one?

thanks

 

LT1 blocks are a dime a dozen. Get another one.

 

dime a dozen where? I havent found a block that isnt on ebay (which I refuse to buy because if it is cracked I will be pissed)

 

I hear ya about trying to find those so called dime a dozen blocks.

I've sleeved blocks before. Oncs on my church bus and once on a friends car. Both vehicles are running great and the buss has two sleeved cylinders right next to each other. Many people don't trust sleeved blocks, but what do you think an LS1 uses. It's your choice, but it you drive your TA like I drive my Z, I'd probably avoid it. I also wouldn't build a LE2 and spray it with sleeves in it.

Can any machinists speak up as to the reliability of sleeved blocks.

Re'

 

thanks for the reply. Yah, if I could find a block for less than 750$ or so id buy it instantly (shipped) but I cant find one anywhere. The sleeves is such a cheap alternative to building a new bottom end... and I am a broke college kid. The budget is not quite enough to build a new short block so this is why I am choosing this option. will 400rwhp eat up these sleeves?

thanks again

 

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...ighlight=block

here is one I found doing a search and it is in texas

 

The new LS7 is a steel sleeved block making 505hp.

 

There is nothing wrong with PROPERLY installed sleeves. It is a trick some use to get a bigger bore.
Only sleeve the ones that are damaged.
Not every shop can do it right so shop around for someone that has done a bunch of them. If ya are still/will be running 2 bolt mains,get another block or short block. If ya got 4 bolts on the damaged block get it fixed,but get someone that knows how.

 

i have no problem with a sleeve. we run one in a N/A 396 lt1 and run low 10's. i have heard theirs a good sleeve made by cummins that uses less of your cylinder it's a bit thinner but better.

 

LT1 blocks are posted on CF regularly. Asking price usually $150-300. You don't want to buy from ebay, fine, that doesn't mean they aren't available there. Any of the many vette or F-body recyclers will probably have a bunch also.

Just did a quick search in the marketplace here and got tons of hits on "LT1 block" First two stock blocks on the list were asking $125 and $150.

 

Like LR said, it all comes down to the installation. It is not a hard process, and if done right, there will be no reason not to trust that block anymore. If you are worried about it, have the machine shop pressure test the block after the install. As others have said, sleeves are used in many motors, both wet and dry, industrial motors are almost all sleeves, that way a mechanic in the field can pull the rods and pistons, pull the sleeves, install new ones, and have the motor back up and running in a day.

 

I looked for about a week and found a block for $150 in the for sale section close enough to my house that I just drove down and got it. The seller was nice enough to agree that after I had it checked out, if it was cracked he would refund my money. It checked out fine and now it's in the car.

I would keep checking on blocks, it was almost cheaper for me to buy a block than it was to have mine sleeved.