To sleeve or not to sleeve....
To sleeve or not to sleeve.... I've been reading the search results when I input "sleeve" or "resleeve" and there seems to be as many people happy with the results/longevity of Darton sleeves as there are people who have had problems and advise everyone to stay away. Usually these are random posts in threads that are not specific about resleeving.
Now that we are in 2009/almost 2010, has the process matured enough to stop fearing resleeved blocks/motors? Or are more people having problems with them, but not really talking about them? I would appreciate some feedback from the experts/experienced people on this subject (wet/dry/ERL superdeck, anything) I have a block packed/sealed with RED's address on it as I type this.
Now that we are in 2009/almost 2010, has the process matured enough to stop fearing resleeved blocks/motors? Or are more people having problems with them, but not really talking about them? I would appreciate some feedback from the experts/experienced people on this subject (wet/dry/ERL superdeck, anything) I have a block packed/sealed with RED's address on it as I type this.
Last edited by Stage7; Sep 12, 2009 at 01:07 PM.
Dartons have worked pretty well for us. Trevor has a ls block with sleeves already installed. I bet he'd sell it for pretty stinkin cheap! Give us a call if you decide you need a block.
__________________
Jason
Co-Owner, Texas Speed & Performance, Ltd.
2005 Twin Turbo C6
404cid Stroker, 67mm Twins
994rwhp/902lb ft @ 22 psi (mustang dyno) www.Texas-Speed.com
Jason
Co-Owner, Texas Speed & Performance, Ltd.
2005 Twin Turbo C6
404cid Stroker, 67mm Twins
994rwhp/902lb ft @ 22 psi (mustang dyno) www.Texas-Speed.com
Sleeve it !! Steve @ RED is the man. He dry sleeved my LS2 block and NO problems what so ever. The machine shop who finished up the block said that RED's machine work was top notch! I'm sure there's other places who do it but I believe Steve worked with Darton on the sleeve development.
I stopped in @ Steve's n checked him out before I sent my block out. His shop was cool...
I stopped in @ Steve's n checked him out before I sent my block out. His shop was cool...
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,043
Likes: 0
From: Texas and Qatar
You can't go wrong with a RED sleeved block. Steve has the proper knowledge and equipment to sleeve the LS blocks properly. He even submitted a lot of helpful pictures and sleeve knowledge that I used when writing my LS-book (in sig). 
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (70)
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, California (818)
pmed you i got one for sale. it would cost double this to get this done
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lsx-parts...ls1-block.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lsx-parts...ls1-block.html
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
FormerVendor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
After using many sleeved blocks from RED and some now from ERL too we have still never had any issues really to speak of. Some of these make over 900 RWHP as well.
If anything they work better as they also provide more cylinder length to support the piston at BDC with the bigger stroke stuff too.
If anything they work better as they also provide more cylinder length to support the piston at BDC with the bigger stroke stuff too.
I have a Darton MID Wet Sleeved LS1 that I'm running. Couldn't be happier with the block and no issues to date. I think alot of the re-sleeving issues were prior to 2004-2005 or so. Anything after that and most of the re-sleeving issues were pretty much resolved with both the wet and dry sleeving.
The original owner of my Darton sleeved block had been through 2 different prior blocks with re-sleeving processes before this one, and they both dropped sleeves before reaching 500 miles of use. That was way back in 2003 I think? When he had my current block and MID sleeves installed, they were pretty much brand new on the market whenever that was,,, 2004-2005?
To answer the OP's question, you won't have any issues with a RED sleeved block.
Mike
The original owner of my Darton sleeved block had been through 2 different prior blocks with re-sleeving processes before this one, and they both dropped sleeves before reaching 500 miles of use. That was way back in 2003 I think? When he had my current block and MID sleeves installed, they were pretty much brand new on the market whenever that was,,, 2004-2005?
To answer the OP's question, you won't have any issues with a RED sleeved block.
Mike
FormerVendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
I think it's all about who is doing the work. We have tested the limits with the GM LS series blocks from our Dry Sleeve to our Superdeck I and our 500 CI Superdeck II. I can say for us that through our testing over the years we have tested what works and what doesn't work when it comes to sleeving these blocks and I can tell you that very few have done more testing than we have on sleeving the LS series blocks. We always are trying to improve on what we know works and I think you always need to look at improving your product to the changing times like our 500 CI and our 6 bolt conversion. Both work extremely well and are both modified GM LS series sleeved blocks. Why re-invent the wheel when all you need to do is improve on what you already know is a good product (GM LS series block). We have developed these applications for street, strip and even extreme application. I can tell you this that if we ever had a problem with a sleeve sinking we would take care if it. Thanks goodness we don't have that problem. Check out our website where you can see our facility. I think it's important to see the facility that will be taking care of your engine. I know that's not everything but I certainly want to see how clean their shop is and to me says a lot about their work. Experience is another and at ERL we have over 100 years of combined machining experience. Let us know if we can help.
I think it's all about who is doing the work. We have tested the limits with the GM LS series blocks from our Dry Sleeve to our Superdeck I and our 500 CI Superdeck II. I can say for us that through our testing over the years we have tested what works and what doesn't work when it comes to sleeving these blocks and I can tell you that very few have done more testing than we have on sleeving the LS series blocks. We always are trying to improve on what we know works and I think you always need to look at improving your product to the changing times like our 500 CI and our 6 bolt conversion. Both work extremely well and are both modified GM LS series sleeved blocks. Why re-invent the wheel when all you need to do is improve on what you already know is a good product (GM LS series block). We have developed these applications for street, strip and even extreme application. I can tell you this that if we ever had a problem with a sleeve sinking we would take care if it. Thanks goodness we don't have that problem. Check out our website where you can see our facility. I think it's important to see the facility that will be taking care of your engine. I know that's not everything but I certainly want to see how clean their shop is and to me says a lot about their work. Experience is another and at ERL we have over 100 years of combined machining experience. Let us know if we can help.
FormerVendor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
T-Bones,
The ERL sleeves are longer than stock by quite a bit and the pistons will be sticking out of them much less than a non sleeved block. Another words even with the clearancing for stroke the pistons are much more supported on these sleeved engines in general.
FormerVendor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
I like the LSX blocks even if they require a little TLC but they are heavier than some people want for some applications and like stage 7 said and the reason I use them a lot is the longer cylinder bores. Especially on the longer stroke stuff you need the longer bores. I have 3 - 468 cubic inch ERL Superdeck-1 blocks and I couldn't have done what I wanted to in the LSX and had it work correctly due to the short cylinders the LSX has compared to the longer by almost .300 cylinders of the ERL deal. The ERL blocks are like works of art as far as their machining as well.
I was just wondering what they would do if they clearanced the sleeves wrong and the piston skirts were out too far?
Last edited by T-Bones Goat; Sep 12, 2009 at 02:16 PM.