racer223

Hey y'all, I am thinking about sleeveing a gen 3 aluminum 5.3 block I have. My goal is to build a BUDGET back up motor to my decent 417" LS3. I was considering just going with 3.905" bore and having a set of pistons made, then using either a set of 243's, or a set of 706's I have. But I was also considering sleeving this block and selling the Cathedral stuff and going with square port heads, so the intake and carb would swap from motor to motor. Obviously Darton is among the high end, and Melling falls closer to the price point I was hoping for. The application is an N/A drag car. I'm just bracket racing, no silly sauce or turbskies. Thoughts on the Melling sleeves?

G Atsma

Sleeving for a BUDGET motor??? 3,905 is only .007 from 5.7 bore that boring a 5.3 will get you there.

racer223

You are correct. My options are, no sleeve, bore to 3.905, use the cathedral heads I have. OR... Sleeve the block, go to 4.075 bore, which is where my 417" engine is, sell the cathedral stuff and get a set of LQ9 heads as I did with my other engine. If I sleeve the block, and go square port heads, I can swap my intake from motor to motor. My basic question is, pros vs cons, of the Melling sleeve. I am not really interested in spending a lot of money on Darton Sleeves if the Melling parts aren't worth the money.

Ls7colorado

iTrader: (3)

Why not just get a aluminum 6.0 block and be done?

Also why the need for a backup? if your just running bracket N/A your 413 should last a VERY VERY long time

racer223

I could go the 6.0 route I guess. I already have the 5.3 block and thought it might be a fun build. As of right now, I'm lacking a rotating assembly, cam, and intake. As far as the need... No need. Im sure you know what its like having parts lying around, "ghosh, I could have a whole 'nother motor!". I just thought someone might have some insight on those cheap O' Melling sleeves.

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

I’ve done a few sleeved blocks and I’d have to say that the purchase of the sleeves is the easy part. It’s using a shop that has experience and the machining to properly do the installs that’s the expensive part. Don’t trust just anyone to sleeve your block.

98Zeric

I agree with che70velle , the ls1 block i was going to use needed 2 sleeve (cylinders egg shaped). Curious about it so I asked the machine shop owner and he said with the cost of the machining that i would be better off finding another block.. which is the route I went...6.0

racer223

I have a really good machine shop near me that I use. I know that a set of Darton sleeves will run me 8-900. But I ran across these Melling sleeves from summit and they are in the $25 range each. I understand the quality wont be as good as the high end sleeves, I would assume they would be on par with OE sleeves. I also hate calling my machine shop to ask these hypothetical questions, maybe the LS community could help me hash this out before I make the phone call.

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

Darton stuff is basically a bill a piece. They are ductile iron, whereas the Melling sleeves are cast iron. $25 a sleeve?...wow. Had no idea. I’ve paid way more for a set of bearings than that.

Ls7colorado

iTrader: (3)

I guess my Idea of budget and yours is completely different lol

99 Black Bird T/A

iTrader: (4)

$200 set of sleeves and probably around $1,800 of machine work & labor?

Or Texas Speed quality Power Bore sleeved block outright for $2,400?

I'd sell your block and call Texas Speed

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

I agree with 99BB. Not saying your machine shop is incapable of doing the job, but to do it correctly, a CNC is required. I use RED to sleeve my blocks, but you can go to Texas Speed On the web, and see pics of said machine stations. They run about a million bucks a piece. It’s the only way to ensure the block is done correctly. Honestly there’s nothing budget about sleeving a block.

Tuskyz28

One talk with Steve @ R.E.D and you'll be sending the block to California

racer223

Fantastic information here. Racers Edge here in Tucson has all the equipment to do the job, and Bret is as good as anyone I've ever spoken with. From LS to BBC, 2JZ, I believe they held the N/A Coyote world record for the quickest and fastest ET for a while. They also builds all kinds of nasty CR, YZ, KTM, KX, 450's motors for customers all over the world. The machine work/equipment or knowledge isn't lacking within that shop for sure. My basic premise of this discussion is if anyone has had any experience with those cheap O' sleeves from Melling. As far as my definition of budget, I spent $18k on my LS3, not too many expenses spared. Here is the thread: https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-raci...-dragster.html
I was thinking maybe it would be fun to see if I could come close to duplicating what I already have, only do it as cheap as possible.

tblentrprz

I'd recommend call up Racers Edge and get the cost to sleeve, bore, hone and check/machine/prep the rest of the block and let us know the cost. I sense that you'll come to the conclusion that using a $25 sleeve likely doesn't make sense.