My Super M engine is in at least fair condition, but has somewhat excessive variation in compression. It is currently completely disassembled and turns out to have IH fire crater pistons. The person I took the engine to for machine work has also worked for 3-4 decades rebuilding everything from tractors and irrigation engines to race cars. He says the pistons are ok, but the sleeves need to be replaced, but the pistons will be ok in new 4.25 inch sleeves. Bates Corp has sleeves that are compatible with IH, same part number. The parts book says IH does not sell the sleeves separately. Since I have read on this forum about aftermarket sleeves being either too loose or too tight implying that the inside diameter can also be off, I wonder if there would be a significant problem using the new sleeves and old pistons. If a slightly small the machinest says he can enlarge the sleeves to fit. Has anyone actually put old pistons in new sleeves or is this not a recommended practice? I would like to keep the firecraters if possible, even though the cost will be higher than a new engine kit. Bates also has a "fire crater" piston and sleeve kit, but they are not original IH. Thanks in advance.

One of my Ms has old Firecraters in new sleeves.

Thanks!

Rebuilt one for another person and the fire craters checked out good. I used new sleeves without a problem and didn't have to resize. New sleeves were the same OD as the ones removed.
Don't remember where The sleeves came from, it was from a fellow who answered a post on this site. They were $50 each then. Do you have fire craters with the large piston pin or small ones.
If its the small ones the conncting rods will have thick adapter bushings for the pins. Does the block have a letter stamped near the bore. If its a C or D a standard sleeve may be a loose fit. Thinwall sleeves wern't made for a real tight fit though.

I'll have to check the pin size. It's a 1953 Louisville Super M--was there a serial break? The block has 3 D's and 1 C on it. The pistons all have B on them, whatever that means. Since the sleeves are aftermarket I suppose I will have to take a chance. All the repair kits I know of have the 4.125 thinwalls anyway.

No serial break for a SM, just some pistons were sold with large pin and some with small pin like used in later 400 and on 450. So a special piston pin bushing was used in the rod of a SM if fitted with small pin pistons. Looked for measured block bore sizes for sleeves I had wrote down but didn't find them. Did find I was wrong on the cost of the sleeves. Last ones I bought were $160 for 4.