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[C1] Boring a '57 block

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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 10:28 AM
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Default Boring a '57 block

Hey guys, after doing some research on my '58 block, it says the '58's were cast with much thicker cylinder walls than the '57 blocks. I have a '57 that needs bored but I don't want to throw $$ at a lost cause. Anyone know the limits on boring a '57 548 block? It "might" clean up at + .030"...
Thanks for any insight.
Dave.
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 10:52 AM
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.030 should be OK. Many were taken out even more
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 11:06 AM
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I have several 548 that have gone .1 over.
It was not uncommon back in the day
You can have it checked - see how thick it is

Last edited by csherman; Oct 6, 2020 at 11:07 AM.
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by jimgessner
.030 should be OK. Many were taken out even more
Thanks Jim. I believe mine might fall into the "even more" category..we'll see. Either way, I'll leave some for the finish hone, I don't have pistons yet.
Dave.
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 03:41 PM
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X2 or 3. I have heard of as much as .125" over.....for a 301. Have a co-worker who ran one in the late '60's and it was a screamer, according to him!
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 03:44 PM
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Keep in mind that ALL '57 '548 blocks started life as 265 blocks and were factory bored .125 to turn them into 283 blocks.

Proceed with caution!
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 03:54 PM
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Some '57 blocks would take a .125 O/B. Many wouldn't
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by MikeM
Some '57 blocks would take a .125 O/B. Many wouldn't
I'm not one to gamble. I wouldn't risk it trying to take an otherwise perfectly good 548 block out another .125. I'd go lookin' for a later 283 block. But that's just me.
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by jim lockwood
I'm not one to gamble. I wouldn't risk it trying to take an otherwise perfectly good 548 block out another .125. I'd go lookin' for a later 283 block. But that's just me.
I would have the block sonic checked and base my decision off of that. Same deal with the Pontiacs I work on.....some 389's will go .090" over and some are only good for .040. Depends on the amount of core shift and the day of the week it was cast, pretty much. No way to tell unless it's sonic-checked, unless the lifter bores are way off, which indicates a fair amount of core shift from the get-go.
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 04:49 PM
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It's been sitting in the shop for 30+ years. Looks to be standard now, but with the rust in the cylinders its really hard to tell exactly what the current bore size is and what it will clean up at. I'm only going to take it to the next available piston size. Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Dave.
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Old Oct 6, 2020 | 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by jim lockwood
I'm not one to gamble. I wouldn't risk it trying to take an otherwise perfectly good 548 block out another .125. I'd go lookin' for a later 283 block. But that's just me.
It was 1958. I was 14. Just finishing the 8th grade. A buddy said he had a 283 bare block from his brother's '57 Chevy. Bored to 4". It was a real 301! Hot dog! I was mesmerized. I had to have it. (I'm finally going to own a SBC engine. This is my start). Only problem, it had a split cylinder wall. Too thin. Buddy convinced me sleeves were cheap.

I bought it. $5.

Last edited by MikeM; Oct 6, 2020 at 05:49 PM.
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Old Oct 7, 2020 | 12:09 AM
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Originally Posted by MikeM
It was 1958. I was 14. Just finishing the 8th grade. A buddy said he had a 283 bare block from his brother's '57 Chevy. Bored to 4". It was a real 301! Hot dog! I was mesmerized. I had to have it. (I'm finally going to own a SBC engine. This is my start). Only problem, it had a split cylinder wall. Too thin. Buddy convinced me sleeves were cheap.

I bought it. $5.
Did you ever do anything with it?
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Old Oct 7, 2020 | 06:43 AM
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Yes!!
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