not sure what I should do / Question answers needed

[stang13]

Hi Guys I value everyones opinion on this forum so I have an important question . I have a 70 challenger rt/SE  440 six pack with matching numbers . Right now I am having the engine rebuilt  ( main seal was leaking bad and burning oil)  and I figure I would have them update the engine alm heads ceramic headers , gear drive etc. Well they sent the block out to the machine shop and I was called by the builder telling me that that whoever had the car before be tore this engine down before and did a crap job on the machining . He figured since it was a matching numbers car I would want to use the original block and put sleeves into two of the cylinders instead of a new block . My question to you folks is would you use the sleeves or get the new block even tho the car is matching . I really did not plan on selling it but I know how much the numbers matching adds value to the car

[TinCuda]

If you never sell the car, who cares what engine you use.  My car is worth a lot more to me than I could ever sell it for.

Is a new block cheaper or better than sleeving the old block?  I have never had that done.

Regardless of if you use it in your car or not, hang on to the original block.   If it is really a V coded original 440 six pack car, the matching numbers would make a big difference in resell value.


.,

[dutch]

I would stick it under the workbench and build me something without sleeves.  Keep it for sure

[Moparal]

Do NOT let go of the block. Keep it. Find another 440 block for your car and have them build it.  If you wouldn't of mentioned gear drives, aluminum heads and stuff, I would say 2 sleeves and go with it. But yer better off storing the original and just getting another short block. Save the original, you have a very rare expensive car. Depending on what area you live in, blocks are 100 to 400 bucks is all. Your numbers combo is worth much much more with it. Even if the engine is under a bench at home.  Oh, if you can afford it right now, put the 2 sleeves in it. If your not racing, you could actually run it also. Sleeves will not cause a problem. What bore do they have to go anyways?  If it needs 040 or bigger, you can sonic check it first. Some shops wont go over 20 or 30 for fear. I have run a 60 over with zero issues. Deepends on the casting thickness is all.

[Tim L]

DO NOT part with the block especially in a V code car, bench it and build another..

[4Cruizn]

I would put the sleeves in and keep the engine . . . Why are the sleeves needed? 

['Cuda Hunter]

I have to agree.

That block is a huge value to the resale of the car.

What was wrong with it?

[stang13]

The main seal was leaking bad and burning smoke . I decide to have the engine rebuilt since the engine will be out of the car . The machine shop said that they did a poor job boring out 2 of the cylinders . THey claim that the sleevs will be fine and will last I will not be racing the car . Its just a cruise / fun car .

[MTS-Challenger]

Wow... 440 RT/SE six pack with matching numbers.... Just think about the bragging rights alone "matching numbers".

[4 speed fish]

If the sleeves are done right you will have no problems.

[72bluNblu]

Sleeves are no big deal if installed properly, especially if you're not racing. Big diesels come with sleeves from the factory, same with anything with an aluminum block, most new engines, pretty much all motorcycles, etc. They're a lot more common than you think.

I'd get a better story from the shop though. What's wrong with those two cylinders that they need to be sleeved? Out of round? Overbored? Gouged, cracked, damaged? Were the rest of the bores standard, or is it already .030" or more? What's the finished bore going to end up being on all 8?

For that car I'd just have the sleeves done if they're necessary and not worry about it as long as you trust your machine shop.

[Road_Runner]

If it were mine I would either 1) go back with the repaired original block and maybe a hotter cam, a little more compression but otherwise stock motor, exhaust manifolds etc. or 2) save the original motor as whole as possible and like others have said just build another block with the speed parts you're thinking about.  If I never intended to race it, not even a little, I'd go with option 1 myself.  I'm struggling with whether or not to keep a very original 318 car mostly original because even with this motor its cool that it is so close to how it came from the factory.  With an original 440-6 car?  Wow, that is a monster car even stock.  But like others have said, ultimately its your car to do with what you want it to be...

Later, jim

[72cudamaan]

As said , nothing wrong with sleeves. A sleeve is held in the bore by a shoulder at the bottom
and the cylinder head at the top. Not to mention that they are also a press fit
 Just make sure the shop decks the block to make a perfectly flat surface after the sleeves are installed.

[HP_Cuda]

If it were me and I didn't know the machine shop well, I'd get a second opinion before I sleeved anything.

Do it wrong and you basically got a nice paperweight.