most dependable sleeved block
We give a limmited waranty as well. Ask some of the guys that have been runnig our block (latest as of early 2003) in a poweradder application. No dropped sleeves and almost 1000rwhp. Mid 8's at over 165MPH.
Talk to Mike from rapid as he is a supporting vendor that sells our blocks and has been running one, trying to be politicaly correct
We give a limmited waranty as well. Ask some of the guys that have been runnig our block (latest as of early 2003) in a poweradder application. No dropped sleeves and almost 1000rwhp. Mid 8's at over 165MPH.
Talk to Mike from rapid as he is a supporting vendor that sells our blocks and has been running one, trying to be politicaly correct

cautious since I got burned once already. I really liked the way the 388 pulled with my cam (224/228, 56?/579 w/1.8s) and worked heads (2.02/1.60). I think with a bigger cam in that engine and I would really be impressed.

Steve @ Race Engine Development (link over to the right) is the co-designer of the Darton Interlocking wet sleeve system. If any shop is qualified to do the work, it is his. However, at the time I don't think he keeps core blocks on hand, he usually does the work to your block. If you want to just order one outright, call up Speed Inc. and get one from them. They get their blocks from MTI, and that is who I went with for my big bore project.
Steve along with MTI both have sleeved blocks up and running in many cars. A lot of people have ARE sleeved blocks running great too, and no one is doubting their quality, only their customer service.
Good luck!
Edit: I forgot the most important thread anyone going with a resleeved block should read.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/112703-any-data-darton-mid-block-setups.html
Cricket, while your post is another reminder and all the power to you. I think the admins and ARE have been working together to solve the customer issues and have been making progress. Give em a chance if delivery is an issue talk to Wade or Nick and I know something can be worked out. They schedule things differently now as well.
Just my $0.02 worth and my continued support of these guys
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However, no one voted about having a problem with a sleeved motor after 2,000 miles. Sort of gives the impression if problems are going to occur they will early on.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...4&page=1&pp=20
Total of 9 people voted they had ARE re-sleeved blocks. 4 out of the 9 voted they had problems with the block. Or about 45 percent from that sample.
It would be nice to have some more info on the wet sleeves as well.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...30#post1056430
There are plenty of reputable sponsors to do business with no reason to take risks with a banned sponsor that had severe issues. Of course it's your $$$ and you should go with who your comfortable with.
Good Luck & if you go dry ask if whoever if they can throw in a few free cans of block seal
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Thanks Cricket
The turn around time right now is 3-4 weeks
> The turnaround time on engines at ARE in the past months has been far from acceptable but big changes in the past month have brought things in line with what memebers of this board would find nothing but acceptable.ARE and MTI were the only shops experimenting with these blocks 3 years ago. We as well as all others that tried had some issues earlier on and made revisions like the wet sleeve blocks just went through. Out of approx. 45 -50 blocks in the past 3 years we had about 5-6 with issues, 4 of these in the first year (2001) and 1 or 2 in the past 2 years (02-03) which were fully warranteed with parts labour, install and delivery ( I would say that is acceptable customer service. With the last small revision over a year ago there have no failures
We are confident in our resleeves.The info on the linked thread was great, to bad we don't know who really voted and if the numbers represent actual users or trolls
Last edited by Nick Agostino; Feb 12, 2004 at 10:47 PM.
I've been to their place can't say enough about how impressed I was with the professionalism and friendliness of the staff, cleanliess and size of the shop, and meticulous attention to detail in their machine shop.
MTI took care of me, however, the shop that did the install had to eat labor on the second engine
. If your having a local shop install your engine, let them know that most all engine builders will not pay the local shops labor to pull the bad engine and re-install the good engine even when it's the engine builders fault...another reason to get the bullit proof C5-R.Good luck.
The problem with wet sleeves as I read is that you should run Evans coolant and modified pumps to prevent air pockets.To me this means you could have cooling problems with a wet sleeve.Maybe not.
The best setup is the C5r block,but like most I didn't have that much $$ to put into it so I went dry sleeve.
I wouldn't even consider a dry sleeved stocker.
MTI took care of me, however, the shop that did the install had to eat labor on the second engine
. If your having a local shop install your engine, let them know that most all engine builders will not pay the local shops labor to pull the bad engine and re-install the good engine even when it's the engine builders fault...another reason to get the bullit proof C5-R.Good luck.









