I have a numbers matching 1963 fuel injected Corvette. I have the original matching number engine out of the car. It has been stored in a shed for a couple of years. I recently uncovered it and the cover I had on it leaked. There is water in the cylinders. They have started to rust. I have been able to remove the rust from all but 2 cylinders. The 2 remaining cylinders each have a small spot of the hard rust. You know, the crusty stuff. My concern is, the engine is .040" over and from everything I have read, they do'nt recommend .060" over on the early 327. Have any of you guys done .060" over on an early block? Any problems with the overbore? Any suggestion how to save the block. It has all the original data on it, VIN etc. Thanks, Scott!

Scott I don't know the answer to your question.....But if you have a good machine shop around maybe sonic testing would provide you a answer. I'm sure there are other fixes as well with sleeves but hopefully it can be repaired by boring. Good Luck.....:thumbsup:

Wolfplace is on your coast and would be someone I would trust with just such a valuable block.....Might want to give him a call.

Sounds like a call to Mike Lewis "WOLFPLACE" is in order
Mendocino County, CA

Sounds like a call to Mike Lewis "WOLFPLACE" is in order
Mendocino County, CA

Give Mike a call. 707-984-6103. He can tell you what can be done and where to get it done.
http://www.lewisracingengines.com/

I've run several early and late 327 at .060. I live in Phoenix, where cars have been known overheat from time to time. I don't see it as a big deal as long as the cooling system is up to snuff. overflow bottle, recovery cap, good fitting shroud, quality OEM style fan, no flex cr@p. Low enough compression so you can run lots of ignition advance for cool running.

one of the 327s I had was an 11.5:1 deal with 461 heads. it was .030 and ran hot, mostly because I had to run the timing retarded to keep the pinging down to a dull roar. It ran good but would I build one like today? nope.

Any suggestion how to save the block. It has all the original data on it, VIN etc. Thanks, Scott!


I was going suggest sleeving the block if the bores will be too big... Just be careful, and usually (I think) the block needs to be decked after... But I'd think a good machinist might be able to just deck the sleeves, and save the data... just a bit off the top...

A crafty guy will top the sleeve with his booring bar and avoid the need for decking. My own block had a fresh bore and then rust when I inherited it, we put it in a CK10 hone and it took another .010 oversize to save the bore so we custom ordered pistons to that size, .070" in my case, .050" in yours.

edit: what Dave said!


Is the rust too deep that it wont clean up if its kissed with a hone? Just about every major piston manufacturer will make you any size pistons you want.. If it cleans in .005 just order .045 over, or take it to .050 over and save the last .010 that's left in the block. No need to just punch it to .060 over if it will clean sooner @ 5, 10, or 15.

The cost of non off the shelf (size) pistons only adds about 15% to the total cost. If it can be saved, I'd go this route.

I'd very carefully hand sand the rust down smooth, then dingle-berry hone her and go!!

My money is on you being fine!

pdq67

Stop the speculation. Get on the phone to Mike Lewis, get the engine over there for a pro eval. As this is a 'matching' engine....it deserves the best. Talk of sleeves at this point is way off/extreme measures when a reputable shop has not looked at it.
Mike will give you the ground zero truth after an exam and sonic check.


What Furball said:
Give Mike a call. 707-984-6103. He can tell you what can be done and where to get it done.
http://www.lewisracingengines.com/

Some of you guys talk like sleeving is a no-no. A sleeve or two is no big deal when you're talking about a numbers matching block. Keep in mind, the aluminum block hemis used in top fuel have eight sleeves per block.

Some of you guys talk like sleeving is a no-no. A sleeve or two is no big deal when you're talking about a numbers matching block. Keep in mind, the aluminum block hemis used in top fuel have eight sleeves per block.
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Umm
While I have no issue with installing sleeves in something that needs them & have even put 8 of them in some blocks that were something special,,,,
What exactly does a solid billet block with liners have to do with installing repair sleeves?? :sad:

There is nothing what so ever in common with any aluminum block billet or water jacketed IE Brodix, GM, Dart etc,,,
and what is done in repairing a stock block ;)

And for 90% of the 327 blocks out there .060 is not an issue for a mild deal like this
I could sonic it & would be happy to but in my opinion it is not necessary

For a numbers matching block you want to keep I would recommend honing to whatever it cleaned to & ordering pistons to match as suggested above, this is what we do with most race freshens.
Not a big deal

HEY ALL YOU GUYS , THANKS FOR THE HELP! Mike, I talked to you earlier in the week about my 402 stroker. As you can see I have a lot of irons in the fire. I will do the stroker first, and protect and grease up the bores on the 327. That will be project # 2 I'll have you do for me! Regards, Scott!

Al this talk of sleeves, a sleeve is fine, when you put two side by side the upper and lower sides of the block are less tied to each other, extream example, a Top Fuel car I worked on in the '60's when we used old iron blocks had two side by side sleeves and the side of the block blew out (without a bearing failure or hydralic issue to cause it) just plain came apart. Yes its number matching and you need to save but hone until its clean, then make pistons to fit, if its .050 over thats fine, if its 45 rings will be a pain so go 50

Al this talk of sleeves, a sleeve is fine, when you put two side by side the upper and lower sides of the block are less tied to each other, extream example, a Top Fuel car I worked on in the '60's when we used old iron blocks had two side by side sleeves and the side of the block blew out (without a bearing failure or hydralic issue to cause it) just plain came apart. Yes its number matching and you need to save but hone until its clean, then make pistons to fit, if its .050 over thats fine, if its 45 rings will be a pain so go 50
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Dave,
I know all to well what happens to a 354 or a 392 when you lean on it, I drove a couple of them for many years in AFD before I drove for Santos which was BFD before it was AADA now called FMD & I also drove over many of the engine parts over the years,, :D
Had a really cool pic of the front of the small block where the only thing holding the crank up was the blower belt
This was at Famoso in the early 70's as I recall

But,,,This is not a TF car :sad:

It is a mild 327 & if needed sleeves are not a big deal at all, I have done it to save valuable blocks many times over the years
This has nothing to do with a race block

You do not need to hone any more than is necessary & rings are a non-issue, you can get them in any size you require just like pistons.
Actually .045 is easier, you just get the .040 file fit.

>> "Actually .045 is easier, you just get the .040 file fit"

Yeah, and it cuts down on the filing too. :)

Sorry Wolfplace, sometimes it is better to be thought of as stupid than to open thy mouth and remove all doubt. I just wanted to make a point of the fact that worst case senerio was sleeves and maybe no big deal for this application. I should not have compared the situation to an aluminum hemi. Thanks for setting me straight. "Make sure mouth is in motion before placing foot into same"

Sorry Wolfplace, sometimes it is better to be thought of as stupid than to open thy mouth and remove all doubt. I just wanted to make a point of the fact that worst case senerio was sleeves and maybe no big deal for this application. I should not have compared the situation to an aluminum hemi. Thanks for setting me straight. "Make sure mouth is in motion before placing foot into same"
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Not to worry, I do that daily, the hard part is cleaning the toenails from between my teeth,,, :D :D