Trevor B
Well-Known Member
As I have managed to punch a hole in cylinder #1 and cause an impossible coolant leak into the oil pan, I am faced with a dilemma: sleeve the cylinder or find another block and start over.
I found a shop that will sleeve the cylinder. He quoted $150-175 for the sleeve but prefers to machine the block surfaces 0.008 before it leaves his shop. So $300-325 to get my old block back. He also mentioned that putting in the sleeve may cause a slight distortion in cylinder #3, whether this is noticeable or not he could not say but wanted to warn me.
So Ive got to make a decision. I think Id really like to stick with the 318 for this car (73 Duster) as Ive already got the Performer intake, and Edelbrock 1406 carb, 302 heads, Lokar throttle and kickdown, and 340 exhaust manifolds, as well as a virtually brand new Comp cam (XE262h-10). Ive also got a complete set of new gaskets for the 318. This as opposed to getting a magnum block, a late 80s roller block, or a 360. So I'm in this engine some money already.
If I find a junkyard engine, Im still going to have to pull it all apart, clean it up, and have it checked, no? Could be the possibility of a problem, could end up costing more in addition to whatever I pay for the block.
Any thoughts or ideas that can make this easier for me to think about?
I found a shop that will sleeve the cylinder. He quoted $150-175 for the sleeve but prefers to machine the block surfaces 0.008 before it leaves his shop. So $300-325 to get my old block back. He also mentioned that putting in the sleeve may cause a slight distortion in cylinder #3, whether this is noticeable or not he could not say but wanted to warn me.
So Ive got to make a decision. I think Id really like to stick with the 318 for this car (73 Duster) as Ive already got the Performer intake, and Edelbrock 1406 carb, 302 heads, Lokar throttle and kickdown, and 340 exhaust manifolds, as well as a virtually brand new Comp cam (XE262h-10). Ive also got a complete set of new gaskets for the 318. This as opposed to getting a magnum block, a late 80s roller block, or a 360. So I'm in this engine some money already.
If I find a junkyard engine, Im still going to have to pull it all apart, clean it up, and have it checked, no? Could be the possibility of a problem, could end up costing more in addition to whatever I pay for the block.
Any thoughts or ideas that can make this easier for me to think about?