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Old 03-08-2026, 08:57 PM
mgarblik mgarblik is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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With a sonic test completed, a .060 overbore would be the maximum. Just no way to know if core shift will spoil those plans. As old as these blocks are getting now, many have thin walls from erosion on the inside of the water jackets in addition to core shift. Installing 8 sleeves in an old 389 block is a non-starter as far as cost. The only exception would be the desire to retain a numbers matching drivetrain in an extremely rare model IMO. Around here in Southern, OH to have 8 sleeves installed, then square decked, and plate hone would run $2200.00-2500.00 for parts and labor including the sleeves. Once finished, you still have a block that is inferior to a STD bore 389 IMO. Even installed correctly, the new sleeves tend to move around and get out of shape as they heat cycle the first 50-100 cycles.

About a year ago we put 8 sleeves in a 1964 hemi block. That was about the cost I listed above. It came out OK. Was going into a factory lightweight trailer queen car so they just needed it to run, not leak and be reliable for car show duty.

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