Coolant leak! MTI 427
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From: Lombard .IL
Coolant leak! MTI 427 Has anyone else had any problems with their sleeved block? The first one dropped a sleeve (dry sleeve). Second one cracked the sleeve at the top of the cylinder. (dry sleeve). MTI gave me a new Darton wet sleeve block. This one has coolant leaking ALSO! Difference in the sleeve and the block is .003. Just enough to leak coolant when hot. Seems as the deck was not serfaced properly. I'm getting pretty tired of pulling the motor. Not to mention the car being down for most of last summer! 
Am I the only one having problems? Less than 1000 miles on the engine NO NITROUS! I'm so scared to put nitrous to this paper shortblock. I'm thinking a 402 iron block would have been a better choice. MTI gave sugestions on how (I) should repair the block or they said I should upgrade to a C5R? 
I didn't know you needed a C5R shortblock just to hold coolant. 
Anyways, has anyone else had any problems?
Am I the only one having problems? Less than 1000 miles on the engine NO NITROUS! I'm so scared to put nitrous to this paper shortblock. I'm thinking a 402 iron block would have been a better choice. MTI gave sugestions on how (I) should repair the block or they said I should upgrade to a C5R? I didn't know you needed a C5R shortblock just to hold coolant. Anyways, has anyone else had any problems? Thread Starter
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From: Lombard .IL
Originally Posted by jrp
hence the reason i'd only get a darton wetsleeve done by steve demirjian and none other. PM/email/call steve and see what he has to say about it.
It really sucks to waste money and time that you can never get back. BTW, I already talked to him. Great guy. I can't tell you what he told me. I just hope other peolple don't have to go though this. Thread Starter
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From: Lombard .IL
Originally Posted by MARKSZ71
its the main reason im staying with a 346 to many coolant problems,email jason at mti and see what he says
Originally Posted by LASTLS1
I agree 100%. Had I known what I know now! It really sucks to waste money and time that you can never get back. BTW, I already talked to him. Great guy. I can't tell you what he told me. I just hope other peolple don't have to go though this.
It really sucks to waste money and time that you can never get back. BTW, I already talked to him. Great guy. I can't tell you what he told me. I just hope other peolple don't have to go though this.
, he's told me the problems of darton blocks not done right. what was MTI's solution to fix the problems? also how old is your block? Trending Topics
I can see the cracking problem on a very few blocks because of core shift-which is why IMO 4.100 is the safest limit on a dry sleeve- but still do not get the dropping problems other shops have with dry sleeves 
. I guess I have them done differently than anyone else
. I guess I have them done differently than anyone else LS1 Tech Stories
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From: Lombard .IL
Originally Posted by jrp
i know steve , he's told me the problems of darton blocks not done right. what was MTI's solution to fix the problems? also how old is your block?
, he's told me the problems of darton blocks not done right. what was MTI's solution to fix the problems? also how old is your block?
My, My. I cannot even believe they are still selling that crap. I know my bro, hugger427, had the same crap happen to him last year. He surely posted about his experience, which is exactly like yours. He ended up spending big bucks on a C5R and his engine is out of the car again going through a complete rebuild with a local shop. Un...freakin'...believable! MTI should be prohibited from selling an obvious misdesign dry sleeve block.......
Why not just get a ls2 sleaved block and sell the one you have. The ls2 coolant passage are not in direct contact with the sleeves therefore eliminating coolant seepage problems. Half the price of a c5r block and able to go 4.155 bore.
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First mine is a Darton wet sleeve. Second I had NO IDEA this would be such a problem. For the amout of money you pay for them you would expect a good product. The whole purpose of this thread is to inform people who are about to spend their hard earned money! Had I known in the first place I would have bought an iron block or a C5R. STROKEDLS1.... I could have not said anything and sold the motor. Not my style. I wouldn't sell this boat anchor to anyone. I would rather eat the money and save someone the headache. Unlike MTI, it's not worth my reputation.
I'm bumming for you man. So the problem was that the top of the sleeve was not flush with the deck? If so, was it lower or higher than the deck? I just want to make sure it is not some other problem, because my sleeves are flush.
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From: Lombard .IL
Originally Posted by Pro Stock John
Have you looked into doing a LS2 block and then rewiring the knock sensors?
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From: Lombard .IL
Originally Posted by 11 Bravo
I'm bumming for you man. So the problem was that the top of the sleeve was not flush with the deck? If so, was it lower or higher than the deck? I just want to make sure it is not some other problem, because my sleeves are flush.
Originally Posted by LASTLS1
The sleeve at the back of the motor on the drivers side is flush at the 12:00 position but at the 5:00 position the block drops off .003. So the sleeve is higher at the 5:00 position by .003.
I meant that you could deck the block and sell it. A wet sleeve block should cover the cost of a LS2 resleeve. Just an option so that you had piece of mind and wouldn't have to use special coolant and what not. That is why I went iron block.
