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How are the LS1 sleeves made up?

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Old Nov 14, 2006 | 08:12 PM
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Default How are the LS1 sleeves made up?

Was talking to my machine shop guy and he was scratching his head saying the sleeves in my block looked thin. I said it should be boreable and he gave me this funy look and we started gabbing about the LS1 block. I finally said okay, I will pull the number off the block and go check it out. Its a 99 engine but it turns out to be a 12550592 block. I need to find out if this thing is bore-able as it looks to be a 97+ carry over block. If I measure from the inside edge of sleeve to outside, the part thats press fitted to the block, is that my thickness, or, is there a lip at the top of the sleeve thats thicker than the rest of the sleeve the piston grinds on?
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Old Nov 14, 2006 | 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by csmc711
Was talking to my machine shop guy and he was scratching his head saying the sleeves in my block looked thin. I said it should be boreable and he gave me this funy look and we started gabbing about the LS1 block. I finally said okay, I will pull the number off the block and go check it out. Its a 99 engine but it turns out to be a 12550592 block. I need to find out if this thing is bore-able as it looks to be a 97+ carry over block. If I measure from the inside edge of sleeve to outside, the part thats press fitted to the block, is that my thickness, or, is there a lip at the top of the sleeve thats thicker than the rest of the sleeve the piston grinds on?

I don't have the stock ls1 sleeve thickness for each block iteration. the sleevs are far thinner then they would be if they were as cast bores. The aluminum helps support the sleeve.Most of the OEM blocks really shouldn't go past 0.010 over. I think there are 2 or three block iterations that can go further however but doing a bit of www.google.com searching may turn that up for you. If not check with Katech they are one of the Sponsors here and have a very compitent and capable machine shop that might be able to provide a specific answer.
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Old Nov 14, 2006 | 10:36 PM
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i think the most will be a 3.903 bore
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Old Nov 14, 2006 | 11:11 PM
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the stock liners are only about .060 thick, hence the reason for only a clean up hone.
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Old Nov 15, 2006 | 12:33 AM
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Default LS1 sleeves

There is a flange at the top of the stock cast in sleeve that makes the sleeve appear to be thicker than it actually is. You can not bore these sleeves. They can be cleaned up by honing only to 3.905" max. bore.

If you want to go larger than that, the block must be sleeved. The Darton MID wet sleeves are the only viable way to end up with a trouble free block with the LS1 or LS6 blocks. The Darton MID sleeves are available in two sizes. The larger will go to 4.200" bore.

The Darton MID sleeve process eliminates the cast in iron liner and aluminum wall, replacing it with a very strong ductile iron sleeve. If you are interested in going this route, send me a pm and I will give you pricing. I am one of the patent holders on the sleeve and have done hundreds of installations.

Steve


Originally Posted by csmc711
Was talking to my machine shop guy and he was scratching his head saying the sleeves in my block looked thin. I said it should be boreable and he gave me this funy look and we started gabbing about the LS1 block. I finally said okay, I will pull the number off the block and go check it out. Its a 99 engine but it turns out to be a 12550592 block. I need to find out if this thing is bore-able as it looks to be a 97+ carry over block. If I measure from the inside edge of sleeve to outside, the part thats press fitted to the block, is that my thickness, or, is there a lip at the top of the sleeve thats thicker than the rest of the sleeve the piston grinds on?
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Old Nov 15, 2006 | 03:20 AM
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take it to someone else, he has no business touching an LS1
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Cop Car
take it to someone else, he has no business touching an LS1
Maybe, but, i was just going to use him to bore the cylinders out, nothing else. I "think" he is competant enough to do that, hopefully, lol.

****, so, that block is no good then as it has some serious scratches in it!? Any way to measure SOMETHING to see how thick the sleeves are or is this a known engine that has met its demise? I tried google but there is no info I have found, yet, as to how much can be bored, a lot of talk about them, but not boring/oversizing. Obviously, if it is a cross over fro 97,I would have to say in my guesstimation, no. As for now, I only have the above referances.
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 02:43 PM
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seriously, take it to someone who knows about LS1s, they will save you lots of time and money with their experience. education is expensive..
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Cop Car
seriously, take it to someone who knows about LS1s, they will save you lots of time and money with their experience. education is expensive..
+1 !!! You wouldn't ask a doctor to build a house, why ask someone who knows nothing about an LS1 to build an LS1? It would be "a learning experience" for him...let him pay for his own damn education, dont be the guinnea pig.
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 03:07 PM
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yeah but sometimes its hard to find local guy with ls1 knowledge.
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by MiaSSmaro98
yeah but sometimes its hard to find local guy with ls1 knowledge.

Then drive a few miles.
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 04:04 PM
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what about if its more then a few miles
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by MiaSSmaro98
what about if its more then a few miles
You are in Miami. I am positive there is someone there that can build an LS1.
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by MiaSSmaro98
what about if its more then a few miles

I live in Shreveport,Lousiana. The transmission in my mustang came from Washington state (TKO500, Darkhorse performance) and my motor came from California. Shipping>rebuild.
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 04:40 PM
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To clear up a few things, there is a big difference between boring a block, and just a clean up hone, so that's probably why he gave you a look when . They are two entirely different procedures. You can hone the early (97-98) blocks .005" max. The later blocks (99+) can usually go to .010" overbore.

It usually isn't much $$ to just hone out the cylinders, so it might be worthwhile to try and hone it to 3.903" (.005" over stock) to see if the scratches come out of it.

Mike
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Old Nov 16, 2006 | 06:40 PM
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thanks for the input guys, but, these are really good gouges. Guess I need to go look for a block somewhere.
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Old Nov 17, 2006 | 11:03 AM
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Is it true that the liners are spun in a centrifuge when theyre cast so that centrifugal force makes them denser as it cools? I thought i remember reading that once, but never found any info to back it up...
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