L.A. Sleeve Cylinder Block Components
Representative Photo, actual item may vary
About L.A. Sleeve
L.A. Sleeve — formally known as Los Angeles Sleeve Co. — stands as one of the most enduring names in engine cylinder technology. Founded in 1945 by Nicholas W. Metchkoff in a small Los Angeles factory, the company set out to solve a fundamental problem for engine builders: how to restore worn cylinder bores reliably and economically. Over eight decades later, the business remains a family affair, now in the hands of the third and fourth generation of the Metchkoff family, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, California.
A Legacy Built Sleeve by Sleeve
What started as a supplier of cylinder sleeves for the automotive and tractor industries quickly evolved into something far broader. In the 1950s, L.A. Sleeve expanded into automotive racing and the heavy-duty truck market. By 1968, the company had entered the then-nascent motorcycle and powersports world — a segment that has grown into one of their most prominent markets. Today, L.A. Sleeve manufactures centrifugally spun-cast sleeves for automotive, heavy-duty, industrial, motorcycle, ATV, PWC, snowmobile, and marine applications, among others.
That centrifugal spin-casting process is central to what makes L.A. Sleeve products stand out. Their sleeves are cast from a carbon-chrome-molybdenum iron alloy — proprietary to the brand as "Moly 2000" — which delivers a combination of hardness, machinability, and longevity that is difficult to match. Whether restoring a vintage dirt bike cylinder or re-sleeving a modern diesel truck block, the same core metallurgy underpins every part they make.
From OEM Suppliers to Backyard Builders
L.A. Sleeve serves an exceptionally wide customer base. On one end of the spectrum, they supply engine cylinder liners directly to original equipment manufacturers. On the other, individual riders and small engine repair shops rely on their catalog of over 4,000 models to keep aging powerplants running strong. This dual role — as both an OEM partner and an aftermarket specialist — speaks to the consistency and precision the company maintains across every product line.
For customers who want a complete solution rather than individual components, L.A. Sleeve offers comprehensive cylinder kits that pair sleeves with matched pistons, rings, wrist pins, and gaskets. These kits, available in standard and big-bore configurations, take much of the guesswork out of a top-end rebuild. Similarly, their engine rebuild kits bundle everything needed to restore a cylinder assembly, making them popular with both professional engine builders and performance-minded enthusiasts.
Why Engine Builders Trust L.A. Sleeve
- Over 80 years of continuous American manufacturing and family ownership
- Centrifugal spin-casting produces a denser, more consistent grain structure than static casting
- Multiple alloy options including Moly 2000 chrome-moly iron, ductile iron, and aluminum
- Coverage spanning automotive, powersports, heavy-duty, marine, and industrial engines
- OEM supply relationships alongside a robust aftermarket catalog
- Custom sleeve manufacturing available for specialty and vintage applications
Few brands in the engine parts industry can point to a track record as long or as focused as L.A. Sleeve's. Their singular dedication to cylinder sleeve technology — rather than diversifying into unrelated categories — has allowed them to refine their craft in ways that generalist manufacturers simply cannot match.