LS7Bird

iTrader: (4)

Fairly simple question I haven't been able to find an answer to; are the 4.185" Darton sleeves the same thickness as the 4.125" Darton sleeves, or is the 4.185" essentially a bored out 4.125"?

slogo

Not 100% on the Darton but when ERL did mine they suggested not to go 4.185
so I could clean it up if needed, so basically yes, I would say they are bored out 4.125
so I chose 4.155

Patron

Same sleeve just bored out. Thing is with the dry sleeve max bore is 4.185 and leaves only .060 for thickness. 4.125 bore is Highly Recommended for forced induction. Wet sleeve is a little thicker being that the bores that hold the sleeves are taken out which leads you to be able to bore the Wet sleeve to 4.200. Still 4.125 is recommended for FI. Cost a little more BTW.

Tried some slick $#it and asked if I could add .015 to the dry sleeve which then I could bore out to 4.200 and still have .060 for sleeve thickness. Darton told me that would hurt the integrity of the block as I've weakened the bores holding the sleeves. I figured I could take .015 out of the aluminum bores holding the sleeve's.


Merry Christ Day to Everyone here on TECH!

Patron

Said to myself I need to see it for myself, about not being able to bore the block out .015 to add .015 for a thicker sleeve. Tell me what I can't do they just don't know me. LOL!!!!

http://www.darton-international.com/pdf/LS2_manual.pdf

Yeap it's a no go you've got to bore it out as is .015 to .017 to start. Darn it...LOL!
Can't blame me for trying.

LS7Bird

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the replies and even specs to back it! I'm going big cube + n2o with my build, and don't want to leave any room for a block failure with the hell I intend to give it. 4.125" it is! I suppose it always leaves a little room for a bore-out if I lose a ring and scar it up. Thanks again and Merry Christmas.

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

Fella in the classifieds was recently selling a brand new 4.125" bore LS7 block for 2500 bucks (700 cheaper than Summit)

Patron

A.R. Shale Targa good looking for someone other than LS7Bird he's plans on Drugs for the engine. Good block but crappy sleeves. Still another 2k for Darton install.

Sounds like he plans on giving it a big hit of Dope.....LOL!

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

Local guy here in the atl craigslist has a MID sleeved LS6 block for $2200. Says it’s new...looks like RED’s work from the pics.

LS7Bird

iTrader: (4)

Thanks, I'm always watching those classifieds here as the best Fbody and LS stuff on the net sells here. I picked up an Ls7 stroker short with a mostly junk bottom end here some time back for cheap and am just now getting ready to send'er out for sleeves and the machine work. I'm also keeping it grass-roots with my own custom (self) designed dry sump tank with the rest of the system being Ls9. Believe it or not, there'll be 12 quarts of oil in the battery tray/coolant overflow area. The specs are ready, just need to build it and test it for its ability to deaerate at high rpm. I'm excited to share that one with you guys once it's completed. It'll all be documented.

LS7Bird

iTrader: (4)

Nice deal if that is RED's work!

Vdop

iTrader: (2)

I know I'm a newb, just wanted to point out it's .0015 not .015. It doesn't say that's how much the block is bored, just that the block is bored .0015-.0017 larger than the sleeve's lower diameter of 4.275, so 4.2765 ish. Without knowing what it starts out at you wouldn't know how much is removed. Not saying your idea will or will not work, just a big difference between a thou and a half and fifteen thou.

Patron

On xbox ....Yet you maybe or better said correct.. Haven't looked yet here is the thing I know if I were to do that it would cost extra to have a custom sleeve made. In turn as much as the wet sleeve $3k +more like 3200-3500. Didn't post this but it's not in the budget... I'm in $200 on dry sleeves as is. I can or have to live with a 4.185 bore .... really have to face facts about cost$.

Steve - Race Eng

iTrader: (1)

There are two sleeve sizes, one a small bore starting out at 3.875" and the standard sleeve which is made for 4.125" and larger bores. Both have the same outside diameter of 4.325" in the upper part of the sleeve. @4.185" bore the wall thickness is .070" not .060". Max. bore is for NA. I recommend staying at 4.155" for boost or nitrous for head gasket retention.
With a 4.400" bore spread .075" of aluminum is left between the sleeves. Making the sleeve OD larger reduces this thickness which will most likely lead to the block cracking between the bores. That's happened on some aftermarket blocks.
The MID sleeves are wet liners and are much thicker than the dry liners since they are self supporting and are in direct contact with the coolant.
The dry liner is more than sufficient for most applications. MID is best for pure racing applications or to save a block that would otherwise be scrapped.

Patron

Steve thanks for the input, I've got another question I've seen where guy's take a Dart SBC 4.400 bore space block and make it to a 4.5 could this be done with any lsx block: Dart or ....ETC I'd figure it needs to be iron. I'm trying to keep up if I'm gonna spend.

Steve - Race Eng

iTrader: (1)

You would need a billet block as far as I know. I don't know of anyone making a cast LS block with 4.5" bore spacing. That may happen in the future. The cost would be up there since you would need heads, crank and intake to put the thing together.

Patron

Thanks again Steve! Reason I said this was I follow REAL builds and I've seen and read where Chris U. took a Dart block that any 1 can buy and offset the bore and make a 4.50 bore space engine out of a 4.40 SBC. Gotta think outside the sandlot and not just be a follower. I would like for the ls1 community to out think the AVG! they can do it, why can't we. Same as me asking the TFS spokesman about the canted valve head in a Ls platform that fits factory stuff. I understand your not a manufacturer, but do know manufacturers .....It seems as though they have the best only for the blank or (Trumps of the World). Same with heads and we know what works. Yet sold BS and they buy it or jump on it! I know you'd have to get a different bore spacing Head. Yet if it could be done we could bore the block to the So called GM 4.250 and we all eat. Dart sells the block for less than $3500 yet if made for the Ls guy's it'll cost us 5k.

Patron

And I understand .......I made my own Ls7 heads vs TSP or Mast heads for a small bore. Just because!Nothing but LOVE Steve! This needs to be @ PRI or SEMA for the AVG guy both! Those who know,Know.

Patron

I don't want anyone to say he's off his meds or he's Crazy. I no longer self medicate.

Could this offset be replicated in most any block?

G Atsma

Wrong thread, dude..

NAVYBLUE210

I did not think anyone else was as obsessed about maximizing Bore
As I LOL.