Did early ford engines have cylinder sleeves?

[FrankWest]

Looking thru the Green Book I noticed early engines include part numbers for cylinder sleeves? Is this true? Were cylinder sleeves integral parts of these early engines? I feel like I entered the Twilight zone.

[Terry,OH]

It was about 1938 that Ford started installing sleeves in some engines and in some of the cylinders, from the factory.

[J Franklin]

My original '34 truck engine had thin sleeves from the factory.

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by FrankWest

Looking thru the Green Book I noticed early engines include part numbers for cylinder sleeves? Is this true? Were cylinder sleeves integral parts of these early engines? I feel like I entered the Twilight zone.

I don't know for sure what year they started but 40 and 41 Ford and Mercury had them. They were thin wall steel. The block was bored about .0825 over and the sleeves were pushed in. this brought the bore back to standard. Wall thickness was about .041.
Ford tractors used them also.

My Dads shop stocked a box of 8 sleeves,enough to do 1 V8 or 2 tractors.
Also had a large slug with a handle to drive them in.

When it came time for overhaul you put in new sleeves or leave them out and get .0825 over pistons and rings.

Bill

[40 Deluxe]

MOTOR Manuals of the time period show the tools and methods used to change the sleeves.

[Ken/Alabama]

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Back in the good old days you could buy Pistons & rings .082 . Remove the sleeves and use this kit. I've rebuilt one 40 engine that had .082 Pistons in it so unable to find the rings I replaced the rings with .080 . That was twenty years ago and it's still goin strong.

[burly]

Originally Posted by bbrocksr

I don't know for sure what year they started but 40 and 41 Ford and Mercury had them. They were thin wall steel. The block was bored about .0825 over and the sleeves were pushed in. this brought the bore back to standard. Wall thickness was about .041.
Ford tractors used them also.

My Dads shop stocked a box of 8 sleeves,enough to do 1 V8 or 2 tractors.
Also had a large slug with a handle to drive them in.

When it came time for overhaul you put in new sleeves or leave them out and get .0825 over pistons and rings.

Bill

My 41 Mercury block has these thin (tin can) sleeves. Wonder if I could bore for a 3 & 5/16th without problems? Thanks guys.

[JM 35 Sedan]

The 37-39 original Ford flathead V8 60hp engines that I own were sleeved at the factory.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by burly

My 41 Mercury block has these thin (tin can) sleeves. Wonder if I could bore for a 3 & 5/16th without problems? Thanks guys.

That should be a 99A block which are supposed to have just about the thickest cylinder walls of any flathead, so it should go 3 5/16" easily. As always though, it's best to have it sonic checked.

[Ol' Ron]

With these engines I pull the sleeves and bore to 3 3/16 (.043") and use 8BA pistons. Works like a charm and not as expensive.

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

With these engines I pull the sleeves and bore to 3 3/16 (.043") and use 8BA pistons. Works like a charm and not as expensive.

Ron, How hard is it to remove existing sleeves? Can it damage the block?
Does anyone ever insert a new sleeve into an old one so as not to stress the block? Just asking...I have no experience at all with block work?