What to do.......xr4 150

[NC 1750xlvee]

I just traded for a 88 or 89 Norriscraft 1750 xlv with a 2.4 L XR4 150 it ran good for awhile n last trip the exhaust note had a slight change so. I got it home and did a compression test and all were 120 -115 psi. I then scoped the cylinders thats when i found serious trouble. So i pulled the heads. 3 out of the 6 cylinders have sleeve misalignment with the ports. 2 very slight 1 has almost half of the port closed off. So in talking with the machine shop they say they can bore the 3 cylinders and reinstall new steel sleeves. Is this a reliable fix? Would i be better off finding a new powerhead? I dont mind spending the money on rebuilding the powerhead but dont wanna spend it if it isnt gonna last. Anyone ever has the sleeves bored out and replaced and have it last? A place called PWC outboards say they do it all the time. My local machine shop does it all the time too and have dozens of them in there all the time but, will it last? Thats the question.

 

[Faztbullet]

Steel sleeves are cut out and block bored to accept the diameter of new sleeve, never heard of boring sleeve to remove it. Which port was closed off as its not unusual to see port mismatch from the factory. The sleeves can be pinned but if machine work and interference fit is correct they will not need pinned.

 

[Dukedog]

that's a very common problem with tha first XR4's as it's tha first and only "steel" sleeve 2.4 Merc built.. know of good machinist that "bore" tha old sleeves out where most use heat (oven) and jus pull 'em out.. absolutely nothin' wrong with either way.. tha trick is tha install of tha new ones.. like faz says tha "interface" is tha deciding factor... so tha "aluminum" hole has ta be straight and true...

main thing is do you "trust" tha machine shop?