[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

Paul,
Back before all of the after market block that we have today. We had a 426 Chrysler Hemi block that had larger bore sleeves installed and furnace brazed. While not common this was done back then.

Stan

It's amazes me what work was performed to "get the job done" back in the day. Today a lot of cool projects are killed due to the price of "out of the ordinary" labor costs... It's sad.

[mgarblik]

There are better alternatives out there in the 455 world. I recently bought 2 early 70's 455's for $500.00 for the pair. They are still out there. Both standard bore. 2 bolt main. To properly install and surface 8 sleeves, then torque plate hone the block, you are looking at close to $2200.00 around here. That aftermarket block starts looking pretty darn good at that point. When your done, you still have a lower grade iron block with a compromised deck. Unless a numbers matching trailer queen, I would start fresh with a better block. JMO. On the flip side, I had a customer with an early street hemi in a numbers matching factory lightweight Plymouth. We welded up 6-8 external cracks in the block, put 8 sleeves in it, welded a repair in the block to hold 2 center caps and band aided it back together per the owner's request. He had well over 5K in the block repairs. It survived the dyno. No idea how it did after that. No warranty of any kind on repairs like this .

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

There are better alternatives out there in the 455 world. I recently bought 2 early 70's 455's for $500.00 for the pair. They are still out there. Both standard bore. 2 bolt main. To properly install and surface 8 sleeves, then torque plate hone the block, you are looking at close to $2200.00 around here. That aftermarket block starts looking pretty darn good at that point. When your done, you still have a lower grade iron block with a compromised deck. Unless a numbers matching trailer queen, I would start fresh with a better block. JMO. On the flip side, I had a customer with an early street hemi in a numbers matching factory lightweight Plymouth. We welded up 6-8 external cracks in the block, put 8 sleeves in it, welded a repair in the block to hold 2 center caps and band aided it back together per the owner's request. He had well over 5K in the block repairs. It survived the dyno. No idea how it did after that. No warranty of any kind on repairs like this .

And saving the numbers matching engine increased the value of the car considerably more that the cost of repairing the block.

Good job Mike!

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

And saving the numbers matching engine increased the value of the car considerably more that the cost of repairing the block.

Good job Mike!

Noooo way I can take credit for all that Mopar work. We farmed out the welding to a shop with that makes commercial stainless steel products. Steve, the welder is just the best. Than Blaine at my school, is the Rottler boring mill expert. He bored it for sleeves. I installed the sleeves, decked it and honed it. It takes a full crew to fix a mess like that. I have to say, it came out better than expected.

[Joe-Touring]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

There are better alternatives out there in the 455 world. I recently bought 2 early 70's 455's for $500.00 for the pair. They are still out there. Both standard bore. 2 bolt main. To properly install and surface 8 sleeves, then torque plate hone the block, you are looking at close to $2200.00 around here. That aftermarket block starts looking pretty darn good at that point. When your done, you still have a lower grade iron block with a compromised deck.

I definitely don’t want to spring for 8 sleeves, I don’t plan on pushing this engine hard. Solid point about the comparative cost of the aftermarket block.

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Unless a numbers matching trailer queen, I would start fresh with a better block. JMO. On the flip side, I had a customer with an early street hemi in a numbers matching factory lightweight Plymouth. We welded up 6-8 external cracks in the block, put 8 sleeves in it, welded a repair in the block to hold 2 center caps and band aided it back together per the owner's request. He had well over 5K in the block repairs. It survived the dyno. No idea how it did after that. No warranty of any kind on repairs like this .

Wow. Lotta work, but it makes sense for such a rare engine/car combo.