SBC cylinder wall thicknesses?

[STK4340]

How about original Chevy II blocks, both 283 and 327? How do these fair in strength and cylinder wall thickness? I have been told that in years past before the introduction of the bowtie blocks, these were sought-after by racers.

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by STK4340

How about original Chevy II blocks, both 283 and 327? How do these fair in strength and cylinder wall thickness? I have been told that in years past before the introduction of the bowtie blocks, these were sought-after by racers.

The small journal 327 blocks were proned to splitting cylinders if you ran them at 060 over. You would be better off with a 4 bolt large journal block. I am not sure about the 283 stuff. I have a real early 1962 small journal block in my car now and it seems to be a good one. They are real hard to come by. Sonic checking was real popular before the bowtie blocks. It was a waste to do all of the machine and prep work on a production block then have it split a cylinder after 10 - 15 runs.

[greg fulk]

Why don't you guys just sheeve the cylinders? It's $80 a cyl & a hell of a lot stronger.

[Bub Whitaker]

Originally Posted by greg fulk

Why don't you guys just sheeve the cylinders? It's $80 a cyl & a hell of a lot stronger.

Who will do it that cheap and does that include the sleves and what material is it??
Also beware on stock SBC blocks the sleves get dangerously close to the bolt holes and almost always crack to those bolt holes... Bowtie Blocks are no problem and will work well for sleeved down for say 305 \ 283 \ 265 ...

[Tom Moock]

Bub, I sent you PM, Tom

[ss wannabee]

Thanks guys.....what about thickness of finished bores in the early 265/283 blocks? Any ideas on this and how it compares to best 350 situation? Isn't there a small-bore Bowtie block available with an unfinished bore size of about 3.7" so you can bore/hone to the desired size instead of sleeving down for the smaller displacement racers? Bub, is that sleeve/cracking problem more common in the larger or smaller bore production blocks or ALL of them? Thanks again!

[greg fulk]

Bub Pro-Motion machine here in jackson dose it for that. Thing is Ted works by himself @ his house so not much overhead...he has about a 3 week trun around most of the time. You also have to rember here in southern Ohio most people will not pay that to have a engine fixed. If they do it's just for one cyl.