Engine Mods Outrageous Builds, High-Horsepower Modifications, strokers, and big cams for the Corvette

Question about sleeved engine.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 10, 2002 | 06:03 AM
  #1  
Sting Raycin's Avatar
Sting Raycin
Thread Starter
Drifting
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,804
Likes: 0
From: Gettin crazy with the Cheez Whiz! OK
Default Question about sleeved engine.

I have a 327 that I pulled out of a vehicle that had been sitting for awhile. I cleaned it up, dissasembled it and took it to the machine shop and had it vatted and checked for cracks. The machinist told me it was fine, but that one cylinder wall would need to be sleeved. He said all the others would clean up when I had it bored .030" over, which I planned to do anyway. My question is: Is there any disadvantage to having that cylinder sleeved? Will it affect strength in any way? I really would like some advice because I don't want to go ahead building this engine if there is something wrong with that.
Thanks
Jason
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2002 | 09:52 AM
  #2  
GregP's Avatar
GregP
Drifting
Supporting Member
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 36
From: Annapolis MD
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (jdharkey)

Done well a sleeved engine would be fine for most street motors. If it were the correct and original block for the car I would say sleeve it. If it's a stock HP driver and you can't afford another block a sleeve would also be ok. My personal preference would be to look for another block instead (unless 327 blocks are real hard to come by, I've never looked for one).

I had one sleeved cylinder in the first motor in the boat. That motor broke a crank (I'm sure not related to the sleeve) so I never got more than 10 hours run time on it. When I rebuilt the motor I went a found a different original bore block to start with instead.

my $0.02 - Greg
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2002 | 10:02 AM
  #3  
1985z51's Avatar
1985z51
Racer
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: battle creek mi
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (GregP)

done properly..you couldnt find it when im done! :lol: there should not be strength issues
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2002 | 12:15 PM
  #4  
clem zahrobsky's Avatar
clem zahrobsky
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (jdharkey)

make sure that you have it "stepped sleeved" so the sleeve can not slip down. also all aluminum blocks are sleeved from the factory:chevy


[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 11:16 AM 10/10/2002]
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2002 | 05:55 PM
  #5  
ram82fire's Avatar
ram82fire
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: spring city pa
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (clem zahrobsky)

You should have no problems having a sleeve installed as long as the other cylinders are not bored until the sleeving operation is finished .

geo
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2002 | 06:10 PM
  #6  
Lt1er's Avatar
Lt1er
Drifting
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 1
From: Reno nevada
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (jdharkey)

Sleeves are OK even in high hp aplications. You real problem is: What is the journal size? old 302/327 had a smaller journal size than the later 327/350 blocks. I would not put a dime into rebuilding the small very break prone size.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2002 | 06:28 PM
  #7  
webhead's Avatar
webhead
Intermediate
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (jdharkey)

The problem with sleeves is that they leak. The sleeve walls are about a quarter inch thick, and installing them involves cutting into the water jackets. If it's not done just right you'll end up with water in your oil.

I'd seriously consider a custom piston. They can make them any size.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2002 | 04:02 AM
  #8  
Sting Raycin's Avatar
Sting Raycin
Thread Starter
Drifting
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,804
Likes: 0
From: Gettin crazy with the Cheez Whiz! OK
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (webhead)

Thanks for the advice, what years had the small journals?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 11, 2002 | 12:10 PM
  #9  
Lt1er's Avatar
Lt1er
Drifting
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 1
From: Reno nevada
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (Lt1er)

I have forgot most of the trivia on motors, but I think the date would have been 66 and older. The 283/302/327 were very inferior crank shafts. You might even add 307's to that list. So much so that GM redesigned the small block to large journals and 4 bolt main caps
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2002 | 05:48 PM
  #10  
clem zahrobsky's Avatar
clem zahrobsky
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (Lt1er)

the main size increased in 1967 with the advent of the 350 engine because of the longer stroke making need for more overlap between the mains and rod journals for strength. all other engines got it in 1968 :chevy
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2002 | 01:23 AM
  #11  
SWCDuke's Avatar
SWCDuke
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,270
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (Lt1er)

I have forgot most of the trivia on motors, but I think the date would have been 66 and older. The 283/302/327 were very inferior crank shafts. You might even add 307's to that list. So much so that GM redesigned the small block to large journals and 4 bolt main caps
What utter hogwash!!!

All early SB crankshafts were FORGED STEEL and the SHP versions were
Tuftrided.

The reason the journal sizes were increased on the '67 350 was to restore journal overlap with the longer stroke, and in '68 the journal sizes were made common across the board in order to have bearing commonality across displacements.

Most of these "large journal" cranks were nodular cast iron. Only the SHP cranks remained Tuftrided forged steel. SHP blocks also had four bolt mains, but they were overkill. I have never heard of a street small block pulling the main bearing caps out of the block.

Back in the heyday of F5000 engines, most of the winners were running small bearing blocks and cranks because they had lower frictional losses.

Duke





[Modified by SWCDuke, 9:35 PM 10/11/2002]
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2002 | 01:35 AM
  #12  
sinistervette's Avatar
sinistervette
Pro
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: the corner of walk and dont walk
Default Re: Question about sleeved engine. (Lt1er)

. I would not put a dime into rebuilding the small very break prone size.
I would disagree here, the small journal cranks are not break prone. I've run several without any crank problem. I still have a 335ci small journal (back up motor for stock car) that spins 8200rpm and makes 500+ hp. It has and will run lap after lap on a 3/8-1/2 mile oval at rpms above 8000, and never think twice! If you,ve had problems before, I'd tend to think it was an isolated case. :cheers:
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Question about sleeved engine.





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:59 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE