zoom944T

Have a beautiful 2.7L 944 block that I want to bore to 4.125 and nikasil coat. Don't want to go the sleeve route. Anyone know of a shop that can do this work in Texas. Hate to start shipping block around the US.
Any help would be appreciated.

GPA951s

As far as I’ve heard Millennium technologies is the only one that does it.. in any case if you find someone else who does it I’m sure they wouldn’t have the experience the millennium does.. and once it’s done your committed..

Jay Wellwood

Talk to these guys-

http://duffinengine.com/

Maybe they can help you out.

zoom944T

Thanks for the help fellow travelers. Tried Duffin, they only do sleeves. Nice folks though.

Oddjob

US Chrome? I've never used them, but recall seeing them mentioned several times here on rennlist with respect to Nikasil/NiCom plating cylinder bores.

EDIT - sorry, missed the TX requirement.

zoom944T

thanks again for the suggestions. was referred to EBS racing in Reno and had a nice discussion with them. They seemed quite knowledgeable and able to do the job. just slobberknockered that i can't get it done it Texas. with all the racing interests here, you'd think there would be someone.....

V2Rocket

Nikasil is such a niche product that it isn't surprising there's only 1 or 2 places in the US that do it (WI and PA I think)

Though after all my years of 944-ing I would recommend to anyone to just get sleeves done as it will be a more durable, more easily serviceable solution for the future.

Mike Goebel

LA Sleeve.

I think these guys do it too

Mike G.

zoom944T

thanks, Mike. will check them out.

GPA951s

FWIW a friend of mine had his boxster engine rebuilt last year.. had the nickasil done.. shop got the engine back.. didn’t like it .. sent it back for a re-do.. they got it back put it together.. dyno.. took it to the track.. made 2 laps. Tons of smoke.. new aos took it back to the track 2.5 laps.. they tore it down and found the nickasil flaking off the cyl walls…
Hes looking for a new motor……

zoom944T

well that would just suck. soooo, if i went the sleeve route, what are the best options. what coatings are used on the sleeves??
I've read through many of the posts on the subject (but many of the posts are 10 years old). Just checking to see what current thoughts or technologies are preferred.
Appreciate your thoughts.

GPA951s

so I have done a few.. there is the MID darton “wet” sleeve which I had and very ez and robust when done it is crazy expensive to have done.
then there is just the “ dry” sleeve. Which in my opinion is the best option if you do not want to go factory route. The dry sleeves are reasonable and a decent shop who has done it should have no problem. This is just a pressed in steel sleeve no fancy coatings and you get “ regular ole pistons.

then there is the alu- sil route which is what the factory did. The alu- sil is already IN your block, the trick is to hone it with three different stones to size then finish with felt stones with an- 30 paste. What this does on the surface of the bore is “wipe away” the aluminum and expose the silica that is already cast into the block.

I purchased all the stuff from sunnen and fortunately I have a friend with a machine shop. You can’t buy just enough for one block you have to buy enough for about 20 or so.. that’s the rub. My machine shop guy has done 5 blocks so far for me including the one in my racecar which is on its 2nd season and running super strong with no issues.. after 4 days at summit point it used only 1/4 of a quart of oil.
also if you go the alusil route pistons are only $400. From wossner as opposed to custom JE pistons for $1100. Research who does alusil honing close to you. I’m building 4 engines this winter including one that will be for sale in the spring.
anyway. Those are your options. Hope this helped.

V2Rocket

back in 2019 i was ready to build a hot 16v engine...just needed the alusil finish honed/treated to size.

i could not find a single shop within 500 miles of me that had any idea what alusil was or how to do the procedure. i even contacted Sunnen directly asking for referrals and they didn't know, but were happy to sell the An-30 paste.

that really took the wind out of my sails...i ended up selling off everything i had and buying a 2.9L wet-sleeved race engine which was awesome (until i pulled that one too to start an engine swap).

alusil, IMO, is essentially extinct.

zoom944T

Huge help y'all. Sounds like not a lot has changed over the last 15 years. Agree that no-one within 1000 miles doing alusil. Question : If you nikasil coat, is the 3 step procedure still required? or can you just bore, coat, and be done?
thanks, again rennlisters.

Mike Goebel

Read Me

Mike G.