Steve - Race Eng

iTrader: (1)

I thought some of you may be interested in seeing what I have been working on. I have been doing the rework and sleeve design for Dart and Darton Sleeve on an MID wet sleeve version of the aluminum Dart LS Next block. I attached three photos so you can see the prototype.

For those not familiar with Darton MID sleeves, they are very high strength ductile iron wet sleeves which can be pulled out and replaced should one get damaged in service or worn out from use. This makes it possible to get a block back in service pretty quickly. Some teams I do work for have used the same blocks for two or three seasons of racing by swapping out sleeves.

The LS Next castings were designed with MID as an option. This made the rework a pretty smooth operation. The block exterior walls and deck are very thick as can be seen in the photos.

This particular block will be a show display piece. It is standard deck height with stock cam location, and threaded for half inch head studs. Dart will be producing taller deck height and raised cam versions of both dry and MID sleeved blocks in the future.

In the next week or so I will fit a second block with MID sleeves and return to Dart for field testing. I will post a photo of that block with sleeves installed.

Steve

lil john

Steve you are always coming up with something..DART picked the best... So i know it will be top notch. I haven't spoke with you since we talked about how WJ informed me how GM messed up his tall-block LSX design.
Keep the ideas rolling.

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

Very nice Steve! Didn't know you were working with Maskin on this, very cool!

I can't wait to get my hands on a big inch build using one of these bad boys!

Steve - Race Eng

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Lil John.

Martin, I worked on an MID version of the Dart aluminum small block Chevy block prior to PRI. Maskin had the prototype I machined on display in his booth. There is a lot of interest in that piece as with the LS Next both dry sleeved and MID. Unfortunately getting a head gasket made to seal around the MID sleeves has put the small block on hold for the time being.

The LS Next MID should work with with Cometic LSx head gaskets. I'll get a mylar sample from Cometic to lay on the finished block with sleeves installed to double check that.

Steve

atomicfusion

If you did the two that went to Darton, then those were mine...

Steve - Race Eng

iTrader: (1)

Dart was starting on the finish machine work when I called them on Monday. Let me know when you get them.

Steve

atomicfusion

One is headed to Australia, I'm still trying to find a home for the other one