Can this engine be saved?

My 34 Ford

My 34 Ford

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Can this cylinder be sleeved when the damage goes into the water jacket? This is a 1934 21 stud engine and the other cylinders look OK just some surface rust. I do not think this engine has been bored and would like to rebuild it but not sure about the damage. I have a few other photos of this cylinder but could not load them. Thanks in advance for your interest. Dennis
 

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Yes, assuming everything else about the engine block is sound, that cylinder can be sleeved. Whether or not you would want to sleeve all eight cylinders to be on the safe side will depend on how much, if any, overbore already exists, how much more would be required, and on the condition of the other seven cylinder walls. With a pre-'35 engine, things start to get risky above +.040 overbore.
 
It's more of a question of economics when machine work comes into play. Just about anything can be repaired within reason. If you can find a block that is in good condition as a core, you are generally ahead of the game monitarily but as these old blocks get harder to source, we are left with what we have to work with. Sleaving a single cylinder won't be too costly but a complete 8-cylinder resleave can get up there in price pretty quick. If your other bores are salvageable, a machinist can just do the one bore and size the sleave to work with them. If it's a rust through, the block should be sonic tested to see how the other bores are doing.
 
I have a 21 stud from my 37 1/2 ton pick up with one cylinder in worse shape than that. Gives me some hope that maybe the block can be saved.
 
Cost does come into play here, A good crack free block is in the 500 plus range. If that's the only problem with this block, one or even 2 sleeves would be cost evective.
Unfortunately, inspecting a block for more cracks can be expensive if done right. I suggest you find a place tha will bake clean and shot peen the block befor you spend any more money on it.
 
Just for reference.... Mike at H&H flatheads has an on-line site, with prices. His posted price for one sleeve is 90. Additional sleeves at 55 ea. And, all 8 for 400. If it were me, I would 'agonize' over what to do, considering another 'good' block (which is another crap-shoot), or fixing what I already have.
 
bobH said:
Just for reference.... Mike at H&H flatheads has an on-line site, with prices. His posted price for one sleeve is 90. Additional sleeves at 55 ea. And, all 8 for 400. If it were me, I would 'agonize' over what to do, considering another 'good' block (which is another crap-shoot), or fixing what I already have.
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Does that all for $400.00 include the sleeves or just the labor? Walt
 
I have a question about using a sleeve for the above photo. Is there a repair/weld done to that cylinder first or is the sleeve supposed to hold the water back on its own?
Another question: if the engine has never been bored and a sleeve is going to be used for the repair does the cylinder need to be bored first or will the new piston be smaller than the original size pistons?
Can one piston be smaller than the rest?
I'm trying to learn this....
 
The block is bored to fit sleeve and in turn the sleeve is bored to the piston size.All ends up as a regular engine with all pistons the same size.I suppose some have been done with different sized pistons but that is not the norm.The sleeves usually come in a couple of different walk thicknesses 3/32 and 1/8 being quite common.

R
 
Many of the later 221,s had factory installed steel sleeves.Many times the sleeves were removed & 239 pistons installed.
 
Walt Dupont--Me. said:
Does that all for $400.00 include the sleeves or just the labor? Walt
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Walt... The posted note (H&H site) says "sleeves included". You have me wondering - you are in the business. Does this sound 'far-fetched'? My only personal experience was several years ago, and the sleeve job was a similar price - but I was only doing one sleeve ???
 
bobH said:
Walt... The posted note (H&H site) says "sleeves included". You have me wondering - you are in the business. Does this sound 'far-fetched'? My only personal experience was several years ago, and the sleeve job was a similar price - but I was only doing one sleeve ???
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$400.00 for sleeving 8 cyl. including sleeves is a good price. The sleeves cost about 35 buck apiece. Walt
 
Walt Dupont--Me. said:
$400.00 for sleeving 8 cyl. including sleeves is a good price. The sleeves cost about 35 buck apiece. Walt
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That would mean Mike is doing the labor (boring & install) for 15 bucks, based on doing all 8. Doesn't sound logical to me. Me thinks the 400 is 'obsolete', or maybe he makes it up somewhere else. ???
 
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