To sleeve or not to sleeve? Our Buick straight-8 heads to the machine shop | Redline Update #30

Our Buick straight-8 takes a trip over to Thirlby Machine Shop for some much needed TLC. With the help of Tony and Mike, Davin finds out what kind of shape our block and head are really in and what lines in store for us ahead. Does our engine have any Cracks? Will we need sleeves? Was Davin's prediction correct? Let's find out together.
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[@digitalrailroader]

Survey says: we have a viable engine to rebuild! And I do agree that the sleeving process needs to be shown; it would be a neat teaching moment like this video was on the cleaning and crack checking process!

[@henryostman5740]

I'd like to listen to the quiet guy in back who did all the work. He's not that old but are there any young ones leaning this stuff? Bet he makes three times what those 'criminal justice system' college majors make.

[@zippythechicken]

i thought they showed them pressing in sleeves before.. can't remember what project that was .. maybe a while ago.

[@comajoebuck999]

Sleeve in the freezer. Overbore the cylinder appropriately, leaving a lip at the bottom. Insert sleeve, tapping as needed until bottomed. Shave off top excess. Bore to size.

[@eaglewi]

What happens if the sleeve is off center a couple thousandth? Will it run out of balance? I never heard anyone explain why it's so important

[@majedalmalki1275]

You not just restored the engines, you restored our past with those amazing engines 👍👍👍👍

[@flyinprice1]

I have to say that I love these videos. Saving the old stuff is great. I am a member of an aviation and we save old airplanes. All these videos are so cool to me. Keep it up.

[@Australia-ky7kx]

Really interesting professional quality video on a engine not commonly featured. I owned a 1939 Buick straight 8. Started with max oil pressure dropping to zero oil pressure when hot. Ultimate teen cruiser in 1968.

[@tiberiusclaudiusnerogermanicis]

Knowing how busy machine shops are its sure nice of them to let you guys take their time to show and explain to us all the processes of what's happening. Nice job. It will be fun to see the milling and sleeves going into this bad boy

[@RalphReagan]

Straight eights just sound wonderful haven't heard one since 79 or 80

[@heavylead1961]

well awesome video! i sure hope ya show the cylinders getting milled and sleeved! i know how it's done, just never seen it done!

[@Hagerty]

We will! Waiting for some parts to arrive and some openings at a very busy machine shop! Stay tuned...

[@heavylead1961]

@@Hagerty i can do that!

[@AndrewBrowner]

@@Hagerty i hope yous can talk a little about pricing, i dont understand how these guys can buy all these very pricey machines and equipment, pay competent knowledgeable employees and still make a profit without charging you so much its stupid not to just buy a low miled used engine or crate motor is there really that many people getting engines cleaned oversized sleeved ect? im sure they do all types of machining but alot of the equipment and skills are engine specific

[@AndrewBrowner]

@billyfromtheusa its a little bit sill to pay more and do more work for an old less powerful less efficient engine... but i am a sucker for a good straight 6 so a straight 8 intrigues me i was more so talking about in general for any vehicle not just old restorations i see people getting decks leveled and the engine hot tanked for a couple hundred dollars thats alot of work and equipment to do that and i doubt they get 10 of them to do at once so its not really stream lined or efficient

[@AndrewBrowner]

@billyfromtheusa location specific i guess, wouldnt get that many engines being rebuilt in my area in an entire year and theyd need to be spread around a few shops that cover the area

[@Shane-Singleton]

Very glad to see that the block doesn't have any cracks in it. Hope you're able to find sleeves that will work or can be made to work. The good thing about a sleeve for a 4-stroke gas engine is that most times all it has to be is a correct set of dimensions. Doesn't have to be Ford, Chevy, etc. specific.

[@JaredR1996]

The work these people do to restore these engines is amazing 👍

[@paulkolazinski1386]

Its so nice to listen to a mechanic who isn't delivering me bad news or with a smarmy salesman feel, describing the process honestly, on a beautiful project I don't have to pay for. Great trusted master mechanic speaking with a perfect mix of teaching and brotherhood and excitement. The video itself is also a nice professional experience with rewatch ability and gimmick free. No catch phrases or unnecessary sound effects to falsely elevate something that doesn't need to be elevated. your videos are truly some of my favorite things on KZbin

[@gaylonsteenburghsteenburgh7468]

Can't wait till you get the parts ! . Very intresting ! .

[@bmh67wa]

Gone are the days of caustic chemicals and hot tanks. I still have burns on my arms from 25 years ago when I worked in a machine shop. The methods this shop uses to clean appear to be much safer than what we had back in the day and are just as effective. Glad to see it.

[@williamgregory6684]

That is one beefy block. Great videos.Very informative.

[@hawkdsl]

Watching the engine go from block to block, and come out like it was just cast is just so satisfying. I've always thought strait eights were really cool, and am a little surprised there's not more out there. Really looking forward to this one getting completed.

[@austindoud273]

The problem with 8 is they are crazy long and they aren't any smoother than a 6

[@hawkdsl]

@@austindoud273 all that is true, I always imagined them a good fit for lead sleds, like40 Merks and what have you.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Glad I worked in an engine shop like that for a few years. Yea it looks like a dungeon but you learn alot. There isn't a freeze plug or oil galley plug that can scare me anymore! 😆 Seriously, I learned alot and have no regrets as it's given me the ability to just do it and fix it , the hard but correct way.

[@alteregos8949]

I’d absolutely love to work in a machine shop like that one. Amazing the methods of detection to see faults in a blocks integrity and being able to fix it. Restoring timeless machines that paved the way to today’s modern beast motors. Great video!

[@nanospeedandchrome2259]

Knew a guy in the '90s whose dad grafted 2 Toyota (22R?) heads together, end to end, to make an OHC setup for his Buick. IIRC, he held his class record for a while, at Bonneville. Really cool old guy.

[@KevinJohnson-fx6wq]

Freeze plugs do come in handy at times. I had been stationed at Ft Campbell, Ky., and was home in NY where I had to pick up a couple friends and stayed at my grandmother's north of Albany during the winter. When I went to start the car I new something wasn't right, opened the hood and found all 4 of my freeze plugs were hanging on ice coming out of the engine. Uh oh, but pushed it in the garage, let it thaw out and reinstall the plugs. I think my grandmother even had some antifreeze. Anyway, got in and the started right up and ran fine. But we were running late. Luckily we ran into ice in Buffalo and called in from a bar, lol. They were having ice down in Ky. as well, where everything shuts down. I loved that little Dastun 700. I had a lot of fun with that car. Thanks for sharing.

[@fartzinacan]

I really appreciate y'all taking the time to walk through the machine shop process.

[@ron2853]

I've been following your videos for quite sometime now and how amazing you restore decade old engines into almost new ones. Finally i've seen a video on how you explain the process that you are showing on your timelapse on how you restore engines. I do hope you have those types of restoration here in our place. Tbh this is better than that show pimp my ride. Lol! Looking forward to more videos! Cheers!

[@cagdasturanalbayrak9217]

hello Hagerty 20 years young I live in turkey your channel and share your great enthusiasm izliyorum higher education as I have read 750KW ship machinery section with you to work your way, thank you I can not tell so much want him that you always be open 😊😊😊

[@paulstan9828]

So cool to be able to have the job you have. 👍 As always thanks for taking us along.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

Great work

[@damanifesto]

The low end torque on that motor must be impressive. Thanks for the video series on these old engines.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

No HP. just clydesdale torque. Pull really well down low and get to 2500 rpm and the power has all gone!

[@damanifesto]

@@ldnwholesale8552 I wonder if some light supercharging on this motor would wake up the midrange. These were never intended to be high RPM motors anyway.

[@GIGABACHI]

@@damanifesto there's a crazy MoFo running exactly what you thought about on the Salt Flats. Big old hunk of Buick, chopped roof and supercharged. It's one crazy contraption, let me tell yah.

[@GIGABACHI]

@@ldnwholesale8552 that soon ? 2500rpm seems awfully low for a fairly "modern" engine. I was thinking redline more like 4k. Off to the Internet for some tech digging ! ✌👉

[@mfree80286]

@@GIGABACHI That's not redline, that's just when it's wheezing to pull any more air through that downdraft carburetor. I wouldn't push this motor much past 4500rpm though...

[@MitzvosGolem1]

After all that I fill block with cleaning fluid to the top as well as head and let sit . Sometimes magnaflux misses porosity in internal areas. We did alot of marine engines in salt water. Excellent channel!!!! Thanks

[@scottcampbell2836]

You guys make some of the BEST auto vids out there. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

[@TheBadBone23]

I swear I could listen to the guy all day long talking about cars, engines and stuff...

[@barrymonroy7138]

You said it brother!!!🤘🤙

[@gasperajdnik5627]

Yeah 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎

[@tarstarkusz]

They should be re-using as many parts as possible.

[@barrymonroy7138]

@@tarstarkusz Yeah...The pistons.😆

[@tarstarkusz]

@@barrymonroy7138 Yeah, there is no reusing of that one piston. But they should try to use new old stock. Anything well within spec should probably be re-used. There is too much chineseum in modern low-volume supply chains.

[@screamin4402]

I love the videos Davin! Also, keep this series going Hagerty! Cheers from Berrien County Michigan!

[@snakeman48]

Another Berrien County resident here.

[@Hoaxer51]

I agree, Northern Ohio here!

[@adoreslaurel]

Yep, don't take valve springs for granted, putting a head back together after the parts shops had closed and one spring went into two parts, raced down to the wrecking yard, guy lives on site, found an Austin C series spring near his front door, fitted a Ford Zephyr just fine.

[@MrEarle999]

Great overview and narrative on the tear down and assessment of an engine rebuild. I truly miss doing this. I look forward to the rest of this str8 build.

[@GIGABACHI]

YES. 🤓, looking forward to more on this cast iron lump. 💓👍

[@stephendavidbailey2743]

Having briefly owned a straight-8 Packard, I can say that st8's have the most amazing, liquidy feel.

[@crusader6232]

These guys are awesome when it comes to engines...... love it.....

[@deeligee]

Cant wait to hear this puppy start up ..Awesome job so far guys :)

[@alidarko3733]

The best channel on the KZbin regarding the engine buildes And am learning soo much Thank you And best of luck in any work to come.

[@DracoOmnia]

I had a small infatuation with this engine when I was in high school. I had a jeep straight 6 4.0 when I learned a straight eight existed, two cylinders more, more better! lol The magnafluxing breakdown was great, I'd heard about it but never seen it. The engine cleanup walk through was cool, too. I've always heard of engines being hot tanked, never heard of any of those tanks before.

[@ramiibrahim4593]

I think to finish the bore 20,40,60 is always better than sleeve the bluck but when there is no choice you have to. It is a good idea how to check the bluck from cracks. Where I work we check it by water pressure and white powder. Very interesting video, thanks guys👍

[@34SV]

Incredible the quality of casting of that block

[@corporalpunishment1133]

One of the best US car channels for sure. Your video production is awesome thanks for your efforts 👍🇦🇺

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Love videos like this where the process gets explained. We're all interested in this but not all of us are overly knowledgeable about the processes involved.

[@StephenDanielAddeo]

One of my favorite engines. Thanks for this.

[@keno77]

Thank you for this amazing episodes of restoring this historical engine and putting it back to a new life, I enjoy every moment, keep the videos coming and let us see the whole restoration of this marvelous engine.

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

That block looks so finely finished.

[@matthewhelton1725]

Love the detail on the Clean-up, Inspection and NDT for determining whether the Block and the Head is good. Sleeve away!

[@flipsfan78]

I am so satisfied seeing a video giving the extended tour of Thoroughbees (Sp?) and their awesome in house, expertise. I am addicted to your videos! Keep 'em coming!

[@rickpalechuk4411]

Not a lot... just eight. We all remember the 400 sb Chev and the water jacket problems it had. Looking forward to the build. Thanks for sharing, Cheers

[@AutoBrawn]

I worked in a machine shop for a year just doing the tear down and prep work. I only saw 1 straight 8 block. There was one guy who wanted to use a ford flat head V8 for a project and he brought us 3 different ones. All ended up being cracked. Interesting engines to take apart though

[@krullzs]

Now, that's a nice update! 👍

[@Damien.D]

I love how you look and probably feel worried for the engine.

[@drubradley8821]

I have a couple videos of one of these running of a green monster Indy car (The car is not mine, by the way), 100% stock engine, and even stock, these sound so COOL!!!!... I can't wait to see what you Kats are gonna do with the intake and exhaust for the performance factor, and the sound effect.... I have always been a fan of inline engines, 3, 4, 5, 6 ,8 cylinders ... doesn't matter... I just like 'em..

[@Curtis7391-t8q]

Great video! I hope you show the machining process of putting in the sleeves and refurbishing the head

[@Finn-McCool]

8:04 The exact laugh that a childhood lifelong buddy of mine had. LOL Chuckle chortle or snicker. I couldn't smile any quicker.

[@hv53kma]

Always a great day when I get a notification of a new Hagerty video. Keep 'em coming, and tell those parts guys to hurry up and get the sleeves and pistons delivered!

[@pugnos1]

Hey CORNSTAR family. Glad to see daddy CORNSTAR feeling better. Funny I was thinking that we hadn’t seen Coke’s girlfriend in the last few vids and don’t ya know it, here she is. Also nice to see your friends on here. Cheers. Oh yeah, like the music you play when your doing the cemetery stuff. Very soothing and relaxing. Just lost my aunt last week, she was 84.

[@paulcopeland9035]

I think you took a wrong turn somewhere.

[@inquisitor4532]

34 people clicked the wrong thumb. Great project detail. Nice!

[@tomlittle5974]

They are core plug holes as described by others. The factory that machines the blocks on a high volume system uses one of the core plug holes near the center of the block to locate the casting front to back. This is to ensure there is even cylinder wall thickness in the longitudinal plane of the cylinder block. As a safety measure to prevent the block from cracking if the coolant freezes it does not work all of the time. I had a V-8 block crack in the lifter valley and the cup plugs were still in the block.

[@waqarahmed4129]

So your unprofessional- professional opinion was almost right. Just inspired by your video I've tried to rebuild a single cylinder engine and luckily that started working. Even my younger brother wasn't sure about me.

[@KG6YTG]

I could watch all day fantastic....!

[@chuckymcnubbin1518]

I'm looking forward to the next video about the Buick straight 8. I wish I had my grandfather's straight 8 Buick. From what I've been told, it was a great car. They traded it in for a new Holden Kingswood wagon back in 1969. Yes, we had Buicks in Australia.

[@sonkor7334]

Can't wait to see the next video 😍😍 i love this God bless you davin

[@marcosantonioferreira5702]

I`m in são paulo brazil i watch all the videos very good cool

[@Runabout36]

Michigan Tech Huskies in the house...!

[@connordoll9455]

Noticed that too! Actually sending this right now from the MEEM!

[@reckowracing3342]

@@connordoll9455 I spent too many hours in the fish bowl.

[@michaelvrooman5681]

Yoopers rule the world !!

[@austindeems5406]

@billyfromtheusa ... Some of the best vehicles were built here

[@austindeems5406]

@billyfromtheusa true, still better than California.... It's uhh yeah, but why is Michigan so bad?

[@chevyking8236]

I want to see the truck get it finished up.😊

[@Hagerty]

Working on it! Update coming next week!

[@chevyking8236]

@@Hagerty ok cool

[@teamawesome2171]

Amazing work folks....

[@isalmankhan1]

Very exciting to watch the progress👍

[@HamJamming]

The nice thing about hard steel sleeves is that their metallurgy can be carefully engineered to make them as hard as possible, which you can't do when casting a block. Then you choose rings that are also as hard as possible, but just a little bit softer than the sleeve, so they won't abrade the sleeves. Rings and sleeves chosen like that will last just about forever. You can do the same thing with cast sleeves by choosing a ring that is a little bit softer than the sleeve, but cast sleeves won't last quite as long as steel ones. OTOH, maybe with today's good oils it doesn't really matter that much whether you choose steel or cast sleeves. Also, one sleeve type or the other may be unavailable for the application.

[@skylinefever]

I thought that piston ring stiffness became much less of an issue once piston rings were chome plated or plasma moly sprayed.

[@jjmac3561]

They are core plugs, also known as Welch plugs and of course commonly called freeze plugs.

[@Visionery1]

I've always known "freeze plugs" as welsh plugs. Nice work, especially all those machines at the beginning.

[@waynemccuen8213]

Just dig the vids you guys do. Your madd skillzzz rivet me to them. As to Thirlbys. So very interesting.

[@jimw7527]

Yeah go Tech! I’m a mechanical engineering student here

[@martentrudeau6948]

Look like a new block.

[@MetaView7]

Can't wait to see it finished

[@bigmountain7561]

I would set it up for waterless coolant, you’re not going to have a problem after that!!!

[@nicksrestos8505]

Thnx for these vids. I’m going to look at a Packard straight 8 for a boat I’m restoring. It may be the original motor to the boat, a 1948 Shepherd Sportsman Special 22’.

[@twots22]

Awesome stuff. So excited to see more!! ☮&❤ from VT!!

[@RadDadisRad]

I’m all about high performance but I LOVE iron blocks with iron heads for street/strip motors.

[@douglaspierce316]

dave you do a great job of splanen sutff. love your show thanks

[@손정민-v8k]

Awesome outstanding job have a great time thanks

[@MrJerryKramer]

Where have you guys been? Missed y’all...

[@joeschlotthauer840]

7:53, who else wanted to see the magic dust in action...

[@blairguinea1337]

Great job Davin, love ya vids n style

[@МаксимМихеенко-т9ж]

Руки у тебя золотые братуха!!

[@ditzydoo4378]

The Straight-8 dodged a bullet for cracks, but now the search for parts begins... I can't wait to see the outcome of this project. ^_^

[@CarterClub]

Good tips. Thanks for sharing

[@Gordonseries385]

Cool! thought the block would be heavier

[@stephenturner9097]

Don't even joke about dropping the block off the bench 😲

Restoring this old straight 8 is interesting to watch, everything cleaned up really well and is good to go with a new set of sleeves.

[@paullemay3218]

very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@Luis.V.M]

Un trabajo muy interesante!!!

[@marquisethomas5611]

I cant believe I was waiting for a video of a old Buick straight 8 engine, (I'm a Nissan/Infiniti kinda guy)

[@skylinefever]

I can believe that I am watching a Buick straight-8 being rebuilt, even though I am a fan of Nissans. That is because I like to see unusual or rare engines. I was one of a few Hagerty subscribers who asked to see some kind of straight-8 and got their wish. Earlier I was watching someone rebuild a Jeep Go-Devil F-head, and I found it fascinating because it had one overhead valve and one side valve.

[@chumbuddy100]

Cool videos. Love the Tech t-shirt.

[@parkwayconcepts8758]

This channel is the reason I stay on KZbin.

[@Markos681]

Hi. I want to tell you that, I think, I have seen each of his videos, and the truth is that I like them a lot. We have ways of working very similar on engines. It is the first time that I take the time to write a comment, basically because there is nothing I could say to improve their work. But this time I would like, rather than give you an idea of improvement, to ask you something: I hope, I really hope, that this online Buick 8 will be placed with headmade exhaust and intake manifolds, of Steel or Stainless, and that they could improve the big problem of breathing of which they suffered the Inline 8´s, although it was not more, two carburetors of double barrel. It is what I would do myself! Hahahah !! Without further ado, beautiful works and projects, I enjoyed them very much! Congratulations, and greetings from Argentina!

[@_i-kr6eg]

They are also called Welsh plugs if your from UK or Australia

[@matthewshambler2644]

mr323i, same name is South Africa;-)

[@jimjungle1397]

Traditional Welsh typically install facing the opposite direction from American freeze plugs. Welsh plug has the cup side facing inward and American freeze plugs have the cup side facing out.

[@olspanner]

@@jimjungle1397 The cup side should face outside regardless of whether you call it a Welch [correct spelling] plug or freeze plug!

[@jimjungle1397]

@@olspanner Traditionally a, "Welch plug" is reversed from that, but the term is often used for plugs with the cup side out now.

[@isaakwelch3451]

@@olspanner why is that? I've never seen it that way on factory motors.

[@jwagner1993]

Did I tell you how much I love your channel today?

[@dano4572]

Old school"! Rocks!!!!!!!

[@984francis]

I've never heard them called freeze plugs before, I know them as core plugs, the Aussies call them welch plugs.

[@mfree80286]

3:07 safety squints engaged!

[@310_Latchkey_kid]

It has Cascade in it!!

[@robertspike6611]

There are no freeze plugs,the manufacturer feels if you let your engine freeze than so be it, the water jacket core is supported thru the "freeze plug" bore and interlocks into the outer cylinder case mold, this is how you get a free standing water jacket, the bore is then machined to accept a soft plug/core plug to block the hole, some high performance cylinder case's will thread the bore and add a threaded plug to enhance cylinder case structural stability.