I'm having a '52 flathead engine re-built. When the re-builder has to use a sleeve in a cylinder because of cracks will the final re-built engine run as well as if it were a brand new undamaged block? I've been told that mine will have to be sleeved, but was assured it will run like new.

 

in most cases it will do better--I'm not sure about the flathead block specifically, but rest assured it will run at least as well as new.

 

A professionally done sleeving job will not affect the way the engine runs. Actually, many engines are designed to be sleeved. Just be certain that the cracks do not extend to valve seats.

 

Well, I 'm kind of at the mercy of the re-builder. I would hope they would be reputable enough not to sell me a re-built block with cracks that extend up to the valve seats, but I'm in LA and the re-builder is in Houston!! www.precisionengine.com

 

If the crack was just in a cylinder wall, which I assume from the fact the builder is willing to sleeve it, if done properly should be as good as or better than new in that cylinder at least. Sleeves are used in racing engines all the time to save a block with a damaged cylinder or in aluminum blocks or to allow bigger bores than would be safe to do. I would request the block be magnafluxed first if not already done to be sure there are no other cracks in structural areas or into the water jacket besides in that cylinder before investing the money in the sleeve.

Is the builder willing to give you a written warantee on the block for more than 30 days?

 

Some of the earlier Flatheads had Factory Sleeves.

 

Well, I called the re-builder and he assured me the block was magnafluxed and pressure tested and deemed salvagable. They also give a one year warranty on their work, so hopefully I won't have any problems. Thanks for eveyone's information. Not knowing a whole lot about engine re-building, when I heard the word "crack" I started getting a little nervous! This is not cheap, but I feel a lot better now!

 

Joe -

It sounds like you are in good hands. A one year warrantee is about as good as it gets with rebuilders.

What would be of value is to ask the guy if the engine needs to come back to him (in Houston) for fixing if something goes wrong. Some rebuilders (Recon in Penn, for one) will work with a local guy to fix their engines if/when something under warrantee needs fixing later. Just a thought.

 

What is the quote for your rebuild?

 

Be aware that flathead sleeves have to be retained differently than OHV sleeves! Or I should say, your machinist needs to know how to sleeve a flathead specifically. It's because the head doesn't extend over the cylinder anywhere, so it can't clamp it in place. I don't have the details handy, I will try to find them.

Maybe Penn Dick or MTFlat has this info handy?

 

I had all 6 cylinders sleeved on my OHV inline 6 215. It wasn't cheap. I bit the bullet because I wasn't having any luck finding a rebuildable block. Mine had frozen rings and wouldn't clean up within the maximum specified bore. The 215 was only manufactured two years which is why I had such a difficult time finding another one. I looked for over a year. Of course, a couple weeks after getting my block back from the machinist I found an ad here for a complete, rebuildable 215 for $25. It's now my backup, just in case!