engine cylinder re-sleeved

[Joseph U.]

just looked at a car and was told that one of the engine cylinders was resleeved about 4 years ago due to a crack. car seemed to run just fine, accelerated well and did not seem to leak or burn oil. again i am ignorant, what does this mean and should i be concerned about this.
thanks for the help as always,
joe

[Dick W.]

Re: engine cylinder re-sleeved

just looked at a car and was told that one of the engine cylinders was resleeved about 4 years ago due to a crack. car seemed to run just fine, accelerated well and did not seem to leak or burn oil. again i am ignorant, what does this mean and should i be concerned about this.
thanks for the help as always,
joe

A properly installed sleeve will last many miles. Very common repair years ago. Would have no reservations

[Joseph U.]

Re: engine cylinder re-sleeved

Thanks Dick,
I have been in the "archives" as well as "on the net" and it does not seem that this is an issue that should concern me. the car runs well and has for the past several years and it appears that many cars have been "sleeved" both by racers and NCRS members and it would appear that if done well this is not a problem. It would seem that the only issue is to make sure that the engine is not "decked" to destroy the integrity of the stamp pad - and on this car the repair was done by a shop with knowledge about classic cars and the pad is just fine.
Thanks again for the reassurance.
Joe

[Terry M.]

Re: engine cylinder re-sleeved

just looked at a car and was told that one of the engine cylinders was resleeved about 4 years ago due to a crack. car seemed to run just fine, accelerated well and did not seem to leak or burn oil. again i am ignorant, what does this mean and should i be concerned about this.
thanks for the help as always,
joe

If it was properly done by a competent machine shop = no big deal. It was candid of the seller to tell you that. I suspect most sellers would not share that information.

Now go look at the engine assembly stamp and the VIN derivative. Some/most sleeving processes require the deck (top of the cylinder case) to be surfaced after the sleeve is installed. That may have been done to only the driver's side if the sleeved cylinder was on that side, or may have been done to the passenger side with those stampings on it if the sleeved cylinder was on that side, or more likely was done to both head surfaces. In any case, if the originality of those stamps are important to you, or you think they will be important to the next buyer; check them out.

None of my search engines are working for me tonight, but if your computer works better than mine an Internet search should yield you a description of the process.

[Larry B.]

Re: engine cylinder re-sleeved

A sleeve done right is no problem as the sleeve is made of better material than the block. The numbers can be of concern but a sleeve can be installed without decking. The only other concern could be why was it cracked. If the cylinder was thin in one direction the was likely bored off center ,then all cylinders can and likely are thin in the same direction.A sonic test would tell.You said it had run 4 years so you are ok.

[Dick W.]

Re: engine cylinder re-sleeved

Thanks Dick,
I have been in the "archives" as well as "on the net" and it does not seem that this is an issue that should concern me. the car runs well and has for the past several years and it appears that many cars have been "sleeved" both by racers and NCRS members and it would appear that if done well this is not a problem. It would seem that the only issue is to make sure that the engine is not "decked" to destroy the integrity of the stamp pad - and on this car the repair was done by a shop with knowledge about classic cars and the pad is just fine.
Thanks again for the reassurance.
Joe

Just remembered sleeving of race engines. The 1963 Chevrolet "Mystery Engine" that was in the Junior Johnson NASCAR racer ran the last few races with multiple sleeves, winning the National 400 with seven sleeves in the engine. When GM cut the racing program the teams had to make do with what engines they had on hand.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: engine cylinder re-sleeved

I would make sure that when the cylinder was machined they left a ledge at the bottom & not bored all the way out to keep the sleeve from sliding down. I have heard of some shops boring all the way & not leave a skirt.