Cylinder Sleeve – How To Install A Cylinder Sleeve To Save A Block

Cylinder Sleeve - How To Install A Cylinder Sleeve To Save A Block
Cylinder Sleeve - How To Install A Cylinder Sleeve To Save A Block

Learning how to install a cylinder sleeve, is an excellent way to salvage, an otherwise junk engine block.

So, there are primary two reasons, for installing a cylinder sleeve in a engine block.

For instance, to either, repair a damaged cylinder bore or bring a worn cylinder, back to a smaller size.

Another advantage of installing a cylinder sleeve in one bad cylinder, is additional cost savings. Consequently, not having to buy oversize pistons and rings. In addition, you may be able to reuse the pistons and only have to replace the rings. So, whatever the reason is, it’s not all bad news.

Furthermore, many blocks are just too thin, to reliably accommodate over boring without sleeves. When a cylinder sleeve is installed into a cast iron block, the process is fairly simple and effective. Sometimes, cylinder sleeves, are also call Liners.

Common Reasons For Installing A cylinder Sleeve Are:

  • A cylinder that has actually cracked
  • Distorted cylinder, from a hydro-locked engine
  • Damaged cylinder, from dropped valve or damaged piston
  • Foreign material fell in cylinder ( spark plug, misc. parts )
  • Vertical scratches or dents
  • Converting block back to factory size
  • Restoring old, hard to find blocks

So, as you can see this is a fairly common procedure.

Cylinder Sleeve Choices

Display Of Cylinder Sleeve Choices
Display Of Cylinder Sleeve Choices

So, not all sleeves are the same. Different materials expand at different rates than others. As a result, affecting the press fit measurement needed. Always ask your sleeve supplier, how much press fit, is recommended for their sleeve. Because, sleeve manufacturers, offer a wide range of bore diameters. Ranging from 2” to 8.5” that can range up to 24” in length. Sleeve thicknesses, are available from 3/32” and 1/8” for bores up to 5-1/8”. For some special applications, sleeve wall thicknesses of 1/16” and 2mm can be achieved.

Basic Procedures

Cylinder Sleeve Measurements

Measure the sleeve top-middle-bottom, rotate the sleeve 90 degrees, and measure again top-middle-bottom. As a result, the average measurement, is the size of the cylinder sleeve. Use this measurement, to calculate interference fit. Some minor sleeve distortion, may have occurred during shipment. The sleeve will conform to shape, after it is pressed into the cylinder bore. A little trick to aid in pressing in a sleeve, is to refrigerate or freeze the sleeve to shrink it. So, stick the sleeve into the freezer, AFTER you measure it.

Choosing The Correct Press Fit

It is time to determine how much press is needed for the application. Usually .003 for most applications. Please keep in mind that the machinist’s past experiences, should also be considered.

There are numerous factors, that will affect the amount of press, required to hold the cylinder sleeve in place:

  • The location of the damage in the bottom end, crack or hole.
  • A long crack or a large chunk missing, will reduce press, because the damage will open under stress. Increase or decrease the amount of press, according to what will seal the damage.
  • The material and strength integrity of the block.
  • (an air cooled aluminum jug vs. a high nickel block and a lightweight design vs. a rigid type block casting).
  • If you are going to sleeve only one damaged cylinder, the sleeve may distort the adjacent cylinders.

Proper Machining

Cylinder Bored Leaving Step At Bottom Of Cylinder
Cylinder Bored Leaving Step At Bottom Of Cylinder

Stop the boring tool 1/8″ to 1/2″ from the bottom of the cylinder. Most importantly, to leave a step (ledge) for the sleeve to sit on. Now, the cylinder head, will hold the sleeve from the top. (depending on type of block, piston travel, oil ring location, length of crack, etc.) Bore the block to size to accept the sleeve. Next, change the boring machine cutter, to a pointed tool.

In order to square the step/ledge, set the tool about .010″ (per side), less than the block has been bored to. Lightly cut away some of the chamfer, until the cutter reaches the flat, or top of the step/ledge. This allows the sleeve to sit fully on the step/edge, not partially on the chamfered edges.

Cylinder Sleeve Installation

The recommended way to install sleeves, is to chill or freeze the sleeves and to preheat the block. Placing the sleeves in a household deep freeze, will typically shrink their outer diameter about .002˝. Packing them with dry ice or spraying them with some liquid nitrogen, will shrink them even more. Typically .003˝ or so.

This often allows the sleeves to drop right in with little or no effort. As a result, reducing the risk of damaging or distorting the sleeves. Preheating the block slightly, to about 120 degrees will also open up the bores a bit, making installation easier. If you do need to apply force to push the sleeve in, don’t beat on it with a hammer ! Use a mandrel to press it in.

Apply a sleeve retainer compound, (optional if not repairing a cracked block) to the outside diameter of the sleeve.

If the engine block was sleeved, because of a crack or leak, pressuring test the block is a must. You will want to make sure, that your repair is not leaking.

Prepping The Deck

Trim the excess sleeve material from the top of the block, with the bottom flat of the boring tool. With a long sharp file, remove any sleeve protrusion or deck the block with a mill. If you don’t want to mill the block, you might try stoning the top deck of the block. I like to use, a hard griddle stone or a soft knife sharpening stone. Finally, chamfer the top inside diameter of the sleeve.

Conclusion

Hone Engine Cylinder With Torque Plate
Hone Engine Cylinder With Torque Plate

Cylinder sleeves come from the factory semi-finished on the inside. So, you will have to bore and finish hone the sleeve to size. Using torque plates when boring and honing, is one way to minimize or correct cylinder bore distortion. In fact, torque plates may be required on many thin wall blocks (sleeved or not). Consequently, to achieve a really good bore finish that is round and straight.

Thank You !