Sleeves in a 427 Fe

[Igofastr]

Originally Posted by dlampe

Some of you have seen my thread about an .080 overbore block I have. It is a 427 Center oiler with two sleeves. The current sleeves have an OD of 4.335. I was wondering if I could just drop 8 new sleeves into this block? Can I basically cut the entire original cylinder out of the engine and put in new sleeves? I thought I saw somewhere that someone had done just that with a 390 and used 427 size sleeves to get the 4.23 bore. Can it be done? Should it be done? Can I get sleeves large enough to use a 4.310 Piston?

Dean,

You could do that, but the cost to do so would likely be much greater than just buying a new block. If you have diffuculty finding a genuine 427 block, there are lots of 390s with enough material to bore out. Just do the ole 1/8th drill bit test followed by sonic testing.

Pretty much once you get past 2-3 sleeves, it's probably time to move on unless there is something special about the block.

I still like your SPF GT

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by Igofastr

there are lots of 390s with enough material to bore out. Just do the ole 1/8th drill bit test followed by sonic testing.

Ron, I think you have the 428 and 427 blocks confused. While there are some 390 blocks that will go to a 428 bore I'm not aware of any that will go to the larger 427 bore. If I'm wrong on this you guys can call me out, but I don't think so.

Steve

[*13*]

Slightly Off Subject but... What does a sleeve job Cost?

[ccm399]

Probably depends on your area but around here it is about $100-125/hole plus the sleeves.

And as others have mentioned done correctly sleeves are normally just fine. You can absolutely remove the old sleeves, there is more than one way to do it but cutting them out works very well.

I used to be an engine builder for 15+ years and we sleeved blocks all the time. Most of the time it was not all 8 as the cost was normally out of sight but if the block was rare enough we did it.

Hope this helps.

Chris

[Gunner]

Slightly Off Subject but... What does a sleeve job Cost?

Probably depends on your area but around here it is about $100-125/hole plus the sleeves.

Mmph. Snork. <runs away giggling into his own sleeve>

<hollers back> "Twenty bucks, same as in town!"

[ccm399]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Mmph. Snork. <runs away giggling into his own sleeve>

<hollers back> "Twenty bucks, same as in town!"

?????

I guess I should have said per cylinder.....

[undy]

Originally Posted by *13*

Slightly Off Subject but... What does a sleeve job Cost?

Sorry... can't help myself. You'll have to ask Tiger

[lineslinger]

Originally Posted by *13*

Slightly Off Subject but... What does a sleeve job Cost?

It cost me $80 per cylinder as the builder who did the work was on the "payroll" for all machine work on this specific build, plus he's a friend.
I was lucky enough to find an original 427 SO block for $1500. The cost of the block was "low" because it was .060 over on all cylinders.

So, I ended up with an original, seasoned and updated SO block for just under $2200.

[dlampe]

Can you see any trouble with 8 sleeves in a block the is .080 over already with 2 bad cylinders that have already been sleeved? As I said, the sleeved cylinders were bored to 4.335 to accommodate the sleeves.

[Igofastr]

Originally Posted by lovehamr

Ron, I think you have the 428 and 427 blocks confused. While there are some 390 blocks that will go to a 428 bore I'm not aware of any that will go to the larger 427 bore. If I'm wrong on this you guys can call me out, but I don't think so.

Steve

Steve,

Brain Fart. I think you're right. Asleep at the wheel over here.

[Woodz428]

Originally Posted by Igofastr

Dean,

You could do that, but the cost to do so would likely be much greater than just buying a new block. If you have diffuculty finding a genuine 427 block, there are lots of 390s with enough material to bore out. Just do the ole 1/8th drill bit test followed by sonic testing.

Pretty much once you get past 2-3 sleeves, it's probably time to move on unless there is something special about the block.

I still like your SPF GT

I agree. If you do want to use the block,I'd have all of them sleeved. As a machinist, we would suggest that to individuals that were wanting to do Hp work.The steel sleeves usually used are stronger than the cast iron ones that they are cast with and doing all 8 makes the block stronger, as well making the cylinders more uniform in heat transferal.
So as posted, unless you have "need" for that particular block....I'd get a new aftermarket block. Just the fact that a center oiler is already 40+ years old( and 427s weren't typically grocery getters), I would venture that some of the other metal might not be up the the power that some new sleeves might take.