Is it an ok idea to go more than .30 over when borig without sleeves, or would i need to have sleeves. It was just an idea for future reference.

 

6.9......... OK

7.3.......... never.

For future reference how about a truck info signature.........

 

If you have excessive cylinder wear on a 7.3, what are the options? I've read that sleeves can come loose.

 

If you work the engine hard, get a 6.9 block and start over.

Pistons are available in 20, 30 and 40 over for both motors.

I would use any of these in a 6.9.
Since cavitation is an issue with a standard bore 7.3, running an oversized piston is just asking for trouble.
You may be OK with a 20 over piston in a block that has had SCA in it from day one, but do you really want to take a 4000+ dollar gamble on it?

 

For the 7.3 get it bored and sleeved back to original size is the cheapest.....using the original pistons. As for sleeves coming loose not very often.........so go to a known reliable machine shop of your choice or an AERA shop (american engine rebuilders association).

 

Well that's good to know at least. So I take it then that sleeve movement is possible but for the most part highly unlikely?

 

Engine #1 2700 miles the sleeve dropped cracking the block
Engine #2 9700 miles the sleeve dropped cracking the block
Engine #3 17,000 miles the sleeve dropped cracking the block
Engine #4 I tore it down while it was still bolted to the shipping pallet.
Since the fire ring in the head gasket rests on the end of the sleeve only, 4 of 6 sleeves were already dropped below the block deck a few thousandths.
This engine had never been fired yet.
I refused to install the engine.

That is 4 engines in 18 months and 29,400 miles.

Yes the shop was ISO and AERA compliant.
They also used to be Fords rebuilder under the name Dealers Diesel.

Side note, the engine had a 2 year, unlimited mileage warranty.
They did replace the engine twice at their cost for both labor and parts.
They were going to replace it the third time at their cost.

But the warranty runs from the original purchase date, so the last engine only had to last 6 months. If I ran the engine for 7 months before it blew, I was out of a core and a 6600 dollar 7.3 turbo reman engine.

Since the core value at that time was 1500 dollars, that was an 8100 dollar gamble I was not willing to take looking at the previous engine record.
That 8100 dollars does not include the original engine swap or what it would take to get my truck back on the road.

That also does not take into consideration the 3 months I was truckless because of the teardown to diagnose the problem, then report to the reman facility, then wait for the replacement to be shipped in and installed.

I have a very bad taste in my mouth from sleeved engines.