Have Local Yokel Resleeve My LS1?
#1
Have Local Yokel Resleeve My LS1?
First of all, are all LS1 blocks all aluminum? I was talking with my local engine builder about resleeving an LS1 using Darton's M.I.D Sleeve kit (http://www.darton-international.com/kit_sale.htm) and I mentioned that the LS1 was an all aluminum block. He asked if I was sure that it was all aluminum. I told him I was, but I'm just checking.
Would you guys trust a shop that had never done this procedure to an LT1 or LS1? He has done it 1000 times to regular SBCs, but he said he would do some research before working on my LS1. However, he said that if it were an all aluminum block the work would be very easy regardless.
All the circle track guys love him. He built me a budget 383 and it was bad ***. Darton said that any machine shop could do it easily. So, I'm thinking I'll have him do it rather than some of the "experts" that I have found on the Internet if it will save me money.
You see, I can't afford to make the shortblock all at once, and I know he wouldn't mind me paying over a long period of time on a broken schedule. I can get the block and the kit, then the money to have him start on it, all within a few months from now. The rest will have to come one piece at a time until I have the shortblock. Then it will sit in my garauge for a long time before I save up the money for heads and finish getting it ready to sit down in my car. I plan on finding the cheapest LS1 bare block that I can find and use that so I can still drive my car.
Of course, I still need to find my black ram air T/A for under $13K... I'm going to have one. LethalLS1's is in my sights if I can ever catch him at home.
Would you guys trust a shop that had never done this procedure to an LT1 or LS1? He has done it 1000 times to regular SBCs, but he said he would do some research before working on my LS1. However, he said that if it were an all aluminum block the work would be very easy regardless.
All the circle track guys love him. He built me a budget 383 and it was bad ***. Darton said that any machine shop could do it easily. So, I'm thinking I'll have him do it rather than some of the "experts" that I have found on the Internet if it will save me money.
You see, I can't afford to make the shortblock all at once, and I know he wouldn't mind me paying over a long period of time on a broken schedule. I can get the block and the kit, then the money to have him start on it, all within a few months from now. The rest will have to come one piece at a time until I have the shortblock. Then it will sit in my garauge for a long time before I save up the money for heads and finish getting it ready to sit down in my car. I plan on finding the cheapest LS1 bare block that I can find and use that so I can still drive my car.
Of course, I still need to find my black ram air T/A for under $13K... I'm going to have one. LethalLS1's is in my sights if I can ever catch him at home.
#2
TECH Veteran
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Unless your engine builder has a CNC machine, I wouldn't trust it. All of the LS-1 motors are aluminum, but they have iron sleeves. The Darton MID set-up is a very tedious process. It has been said by the man who helped design the kit, that the process needs to be done in a controlled climate and all in the same time frame. No doing a little now and coming back tommorow to finish. Personally, you should just save your dough and by the block already sleeved from MTI or one of the other vendors who has done the process many times. I think if your engine builder reads the instructions, he will tell you the same.
#3
Originally Posted by Beast96Z
Unless your engine builder has a CNC machine, I wouldn't trust it. All of the LS-1 motors are aluminum, but they have iron sleeves. The Darton MID set-up is a very tedious process.
Now, since I only make $9 an hour and live alone, I don't know how I'll be able to save up $3000, though.
I thought CNC only had to do with porting heads?
Originally Posted by Beast96Z
It has been said by the man who helped design the kit, that the process needs to be done in a controlled climate and all in the same time frame. No doing a little now and coming back tommorow to finish.
Originally Posted by Beast96Z
Personally, you should just save your dough and by the block already sleeved from MTI or one of the other vendors who has done the process many times. I think if your engine builder reads the instructions, he will tell you the same.
I guess I should just see it for what it is -- out of my reach.
Dang. and I found a LS1 bare block for $300 too.
#7
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you question has already been answered correctly, to resleeve the block with the MID sleeves it takes a CNC controlled machine like a F65A from Rottler. the F65A is one damn fine piece of equipment and we are working on getting one in house.
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#9
There are some old school machinist out there that can pull it off. Like Darton said any top skill level shop can do it and I will agree that some shops will need a cnc mill to do it properly but I believe a manual machine can do it just as good with someone operating it that knows whats going on.