Sleeves

[robmustang201528]

Any negatives about sleeves? Where there's a pro.. there's a con. I know the importance of having them in high hp cars. Are there any long term problems with them? Special maintenance required? I still plan on driving the car on small trips. 1000 miles going and coming. Mustang week etc etc. I don't want a trailer queen. Thanks

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[I Bleed Ford Blue]

I don't have a sleeved block, but other than cost, I can't think of another downside to sleeves.

 

[robmustang201528]

I don't have a sleeved block, but other than cost, I can't think of another downside to sleeves.

I'm not sure either. I hate to get them and then they say.. oh yeah you have to get your sleeve machined every year or something stupid lol

 

[engineermike]

@olaosunt had some issue where a sleeve slipped or leaked and was told they had to be redone periodically. That’s the first I’ve heard of such.

if I were building a motor for 1000+ I’d use a predator block out-the-box.

 

[robmustang201528]

@olaosunt had some issue where a sleeve slipped or leaked and was told they had to be redone periodically. That’s the first I’ve heard of such.

if I were building a motor for 1000+ I’d use a predator block out-the-box.

Mannnnn what!!!

 

[Jackson1320]

@olaosunt

if I were building a motor for 1000+ I’d use a predator block out-the-box.

Completely agree.

with aftermarket sleeves the chance of a install error is probably the #1 issue because if the first sleeve is off by.010 you can be off by.040-.050 or more by the end so a quality machine shop is a absolute must.
I have had a block sleeved and they cracked it without ever saying anything

 

[Jackson1320]

L.A sleeve has some good replacement sleeves that are thicker than stock but are not a wet sleeve for a good price

 

[olaosunt]

@olaosunt had some issue where a sleeve slipped or leaked and was told they had to be redone periodically. That’s the first I’ve heard of such.

if I were building a motor for 1000+ I’d use a predator block out-the-box.

Hey Mike . i think it was someone else who was told that.

I did have an MMR sleeved 5.2 SB that was blowing coolant/head gaskets that turned out to be due to dropped sleeves .

My man Fonzie was able to fix it ... I ended up selling the long block to a buddy when he did but now wish I had kept it .
That motor finally ended up in coyote swapped fox body and is a beast .

 

[olaosunt]

Before and after pics
After diagnosing and fixed .

 

[engineermike]

@olaosunt I guess I combined 2 instances in my mind.

What compression is the motor in the fox? Looks like flat tops.

 

[olaosunt]

@olaosunt I guess I combined 2 instances in my mind.

What compression is the motor in the fox? Looks like flat tops.

@engineermike they were supposed to have been 11:1 CR/Manley.

I had 2 built around the same time for different cars. Had GT 350 heads on both at some point . Went back to GT heads on this one .

This one was the one in my KB car . The other one was in the Hellion car . No fault of the sleeves but the crank broke on that one .

I was actually able to salvage that block/rods . I had it rebuilt by L&M with Diamond pistons and still have it .
Converted to use 12 mm head studs .

 

[robmustang201528]

Properly installed sleeves will last the life of the engine. For most of history any aluminum block had sleeves.

I personally wouldn’t spend the money though considering the options these days.

What are the options?

 

[svtfever]

RPG built Unsleeved 5.2 here running insane. My goal was only around 1100 though. For 1300+ I’d sleeve it. But ask yourself, what are you really going to do with the car.

 

[sigintel]

RPG built Unsleeved 5.2 here running insane. My goal was only around 1100 though. For 1300+ I’d sleeve it. But ask yourself, what are you really going to do with the car.

Glitter and body spray?

 

[Angrey]

Sleeves

Pros: Strength and Rigidity, durability and ability to be rehoned somewhat.

Cons: Cost and weight. (which is why the manufacturers now use plasma coating). Part of the cost is that the sleeves have to be machined very precisely and installed very precisely in 3 dimensions with relation to each other. Imagine it like getting teeth in your mouth all lined up to be perfectly flat along the top, aligned perfectly longitudinally and also be plum up and down.

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