Whats up Fellas,

Long story short, i'm building an engine for boost and have been looking around at machine shops and sleeving companies. I recently contacted ERL to get a quote on Sleeving a block with there "superdeck I" style set up. I explained to them that i have a set of 84MM CP pistons i'm planing to use and would send them with the block so i could have the sleeves Bored and honed to fit the pistons. .....Now i've built engines before and whenever I've bored cylinders to fit over sized pistons its always been done with a Torque plate so the piston wall clearance or cylinder dimensions don't change when torquing down the head. Even in the Instal guide from CP it says "Boring and honing must be done with a torque plate" but ERL told me that a torque plate is not necessary because it is aluminum....

Doesn't quite "click" in my head, so if anyone has used or gone with ERL before give me a shout please if you have any useful info on this subject. I have heard nothing but good stuff about them, but i'm not understanding this no torque plate thing...

thanks gents

 

always use a torque plate

 

Just go css

Wayy better solution

 

CSS is an over priced block guard

 

There is always Bensons machine, got mine done with them. Mine are 83mm though. He tends to have tons of work and I end up waiting a while each time I send something to him. The way I look at it quality takes time. I have seen others on here that like a few other places with no complaints.

 

Warrantied up to 500hp

Whats the warranty on sleeves?

 

Golden Eagle all the way.
all day everyday

 

Golden Eagle warranty information

For Golden Eagle, Lifetime warranty from sinking or cracking. Even to subsequent owners. no HP limit, though I've seen 1000hp on a regular basis .

I've had mine from GE about 10 years hpde & time attack..same block

ERL wasn't lifetime from what I remember, but it was similar

ERL -Benson General information

 

Yeah, .about that... don't go with Benson. He does whatever the hell he feels like doing and thinks he knows better than the piston manufacturer. I had many detailed conversations with the guy before I sent him my block and he still bored it to what he wanted. He was cheaper at $1,200 shipped back, but I would go with Golden Eagle or definitely Darton. CSS is what is over rated, who seriously wants to spend that kind money on stock B20 sleeves? They do say they have done "hundreds" without a single failure though...

 

ARFab in Virginia Howard Anderson does the best work. Darton MID Sleeves is the way to go. Yes you should always bore home with torque plate.

 

I love the CSS system for B18's but if building a B20 for boost I would sleeve it.

 

I'm not trying to hate on CSS, but to argue that it is a way better solution is completely ridiculous. Also he has 84mm pistons already, if he does in fact have a b20 block then it is only warrantied to 400hp per their website. Another funny thing to notice about the superdeck, is that is uses a very similar cylinder support mechanism for their sleeves, again you are going to argue CSS is better?

I think ERL is right on the torque plate, it's not needed for a B Series with open deck sleeves. I've seen a few machine shops claim that they are necessary and harp about other machine shops not using them, but it's all just to make themselves look better IMO. Once you close the deck with the sleeves, or possibly some of the sleeves that are supported by the main outer structure of the block some have argued for a torque plate, but I would still like to see measurements before and after. I know benson does not torque plate his. Benson, and ERL are one of the few companies I trust sleeving Honda blocks.

 

They are correct!!! No deck plate required. We have the deck plate which "HAD TO BE USED" right next to the machine collecting dust after measuring with and without.

If you were not going 84mm then I'd say CSS, but the B20 block sucks.

I've always liked ERL work, but never built a car with there sleeves. I know a ton of people running ARFab and Victory with good success.

 

Did my block too!

 

Another reason not to go with Benson is: I made a deal with Laskey Racing to get my block sleeved. Mike had me ship my block to Dan Benson in Idaho but I paid Mike in California. Dan Benson took 3 months to complete the work. (I was OK with that) He then shipped my block back without insurance and no signature required via Fed-EX. When my engine failed to show up, I contacted Mike. He forwarded me to Dan. Dan forwarded me to Fed-Ex. Fed-Ex claims they delivered the block to my doorstep. I never received it. I have gotten the runaround from Mike, Dan, and Fed-Ex. Yesterday, 03/30/2015, Mike told me in no uncertain terms that the problem was mine and I should do whatever I felt right. I think it only fair to advise anyone even remotely considering doing business with these men to run as fast and as far away from them as possible.

 

I can confirm that they ship it back WITHOUT insurance. I did not know that as return shipping is included with the price of the sleeving and I guess assumed that insurance was in there. Luckily for me I didn't have any problems with shipment. Sorry to hear about your loss. When you pay Benson directly he just has you put Money Orders in the box along with your information and a short description of what you "think you want done".

 

I would not recommend "Laskey Racing" to anyone or Dan Benson racing

 

Anything block related erl hands down best in my book. You will get great customer service and top notch work.

 

DARTON EAST IS BACK... IM IN MD, AND DARTON JUST OPENED UP AN EASTERN LOCATION IN VIRGINIA. I THINK ILL GO WITH THAT.

 

Darton East = AR Fabrication = money well spent. You will pay more than your average machine shop but Howard goes out of his way to do things above and beyond the average and it shows in his customer service and end product. he does all this and keep in mind he is a one man shop.

 

anyone have complete torque specs for engine rebuild on b16a2?

 

Emitt, when have I ever given you the run around? I answer your phone calls, answer your emails all in a timely manor like I always have. All of what you said is correct, you sent your block to Bensons for sleeving, he did the work and sent it back. We even have tracking showing it made it back to you 7727 8813 3191 Now I do not live at your house to manage what goes on with it after that but I did my job with you which was offer customer service through the process. I can not speak for Bensons but I speak on our behalf. Like I told you during one of our conversations a police report should be filed if there was a theft. If you need to get a hold of me you know how to contact me and as always will help in any way I can.

 

Mike was done is done I found my block which was stolen off my property but could of been prevented if you as a "Buisness Man" would have sent my block back with "signature required and warranty" like I shipped it to you guys this would have never happened..

 

I am very happy you found your block. "me" as a business man did not ship anything. Benson is the person who did the shipping. I did nothing but take care of you in every way through out the process. No warranty stops a crook from stealing which is the real issue here. Good luck with your build.

 

Does Arfab have a site?