Hot Rods looking for advice on engine situation Chevy 261

I would check with your machinist and see if it can be sleeved, 261s are pretty tough to find! Don't s**** it!

I have 3 261's one in my 53 Chevy car, one going in my Model A sedan, and the last for a future project.
I was lucky they found me, but must people would kill to find one.

The 261 cam is the same as the 53/54 Corvette

 

Lots of people swear by acetone and ATF. Try to remove the crank first. Then after soaking for a few days, try driving the pistons down. Then use 50 grit sand paper and clean the cylinders of rust scale. The pistons should come out the top then.

 

I had a 218 Dodge that looked similar. I soaked and soaked it, didn't want to budge a bit-I was able to get the crank out though.

So after a few weeks I noticed a slug of 3/8th steel I'd holed sawed out in the past, I wrapped the edges of the slug with electrical tape, laid it on top of the piston and used my air rattle gun on the slug. Freed the rings up and got the pistons out in short order.

Never have figured out why I was concerned with scratching the cylinder walls though.

 

Thanks for the advice Robert. I followed up with a local machine shop and they said they could save the block! The owner told me he could put in the sleeve, clean everything up, and put in new cam bearings with a one week turn around. I just need to finish tearing it down and get the money together so I can take it in.