Sleeving a "D0VE"

[BBCobra]

Hey, I'm also a new guy on the block. My question is, will sleeving a "385" block, mine is a 460, be risky if wanting to build a 500hp engine with aluminum heads? The block is a D0VE and two cylindes will have to be sleeved. .060 will not clean it up! Please help me decide. GK

[IntimidatorI]

IMHO, I have a DOVE 429/460 in my car and these engines make 500 HP rather easily. IF the sleeving is done properly I don't see a problem. The biggest challenge with these engines is oiling. Since you are using alum heads, make sure you open up the return path for oil drain back. These engines tend to gather oil in the top end especially at high rpm. The other thing that would be good is for all bores to be standard clean up if possible. That way your sleeved cylinders will have a better chance of cooling properly.

Just my 2 cents worth.
eric

[Woodz428]

I always thought a good 385 block would go .080 or larger without any problems.

[cobrashoch]

Woodz428 - depends on factory core shift, regardless of block casting. If you are holding the bores to a thirty over and just opening up the holes, a sleeve will work fine in almost all cases on a dove block.
BBcobra - if you are already at sixty over on all your holes I would have that block sonic checked before you sleeve it. Odds are you may not like what you will hear I'd bet. Better now than later though. If the offending hole is the only one sixty out then I would make it a thirty over engine, sleeve it and forget the sonic check. If you get a all clear with the sonic check, a well applied sleeve is ok to use on the sixty over engine. I sonic check all my blocks because I have them bored off a deck plate a certain special way to "staighten" the holes. Sonic checking removes the doubts.
cobrashock

[BBCobra]

Hey guys, I think sleeving will be in the plan. I'll hold the bore to
.030. It's very reassuring to hear the same basic answer from you! Thanks, Greg K.

[wboss429]

we have 3 sleves in one engine,.80 over makes 800 hp,1095 on spray
and no we dont fill em,we have gone to 110 over ,thease run gas,some r 12.5 to one others are 14.1 comp,,

30 over,youll be fine,

[BPWilliams]

Just my $.02

I have a 72 429 block out of a Lincolin it has all 8 cylindars sleeved back to factory specs. Honed with a torque plate and just got off the dyno at 415 to the rear wheels. Motor is over 500hp and it see's 6.3K at the track all day long. I would suggest the oil return mod in the heads, make sure that you have a good machine shop, not all are created equal................ Oh, I have 7K miles on the motor most of them track events.

Keep it above 100...............

Brian

[djseed]

For around $1,000 or so you can get a good D0VE on eBay. Just keep your eyes open. Other places like Perogie Enterprises also have them. Personally, I would want good factory metal just in case something goes wrong with the repair and a dud engine gets build and then blows. You may be penny wise and pound foolish.

[BBCobra]

Thanks guys, I'm having 2 cylinders sleeved and going with .030 over. Crank is being turned this week. I also ordered pistons so my machinest can bore match to pistons. We are also going to bore and hone with a torque plate!!! The pistons are SpeedPro hypereutectics H535P. These are flat tops that make 10.2cr with 75cc heads. Thanks for the ongoing info!!! GK