[Firebob]

Just curious. Never had this done. Was wondering if after having say an aluminum block sleeved, if it still has to be bored/honed to size or is it good to go?

[ponyakr]

Must be sized to fit the pistons, using the correct clearance.

[Firebob]

That's what I figured but thought maybe they might be good to go out of the box.

[dataway]

I'm not sure if it's an issue with big bore engines... but the smaller aluminum block engines I've had sleeved, I made sure to tell the person doing the boring to use a single point tooling to avoid spinning the sleeve in the bore.

Is that ever an issue on alloy block V8s ?

[mgarblik]

The sleeve has allot to do with whether the ID has to be honed. If the OD of the sleeve is an interference fit where you heat the block/or freeze the sleeve to install, when the temperature normalizes, you should hone the sleeve for final perfect clearance, straight and round. We have been told with a zero slip fit, like a top fuel block would use and we are considering using, you install the sleeve and go. No personal experience with this set-up yet. An iron repair sleeve going into an iron block would have an interference fit. In that situation, you would want to hone for final fitment.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

The sleeve has allot to do with whether the ID has to be honed. If the OD of the sleeve is an interference fit where you heat the block/or freeze the sleeve to install, when the temperature normalizes, you should hone the sleeve for final perfect clearance, straight and round. We have been told with a zero slip fit, like a top fuel block would use and we are considering using, you install the sleeve and go. No personal experience with this set-up yet. An iron repair sleeve going into an iron block would have an interference fit. In that situation, you would want to hone for final fitment.

X 2, Mike. Additionally, make sure the shop you use has a GOOD reputation about installing sleeves. An inexperienced machinist can turn your block into a boat anchor with very little effort IF he's never or seldomly installs sleeves.