All the early merc's 2.4L (till 88??) were chrome bore. That's one reason these motors last so long. The 2.0L, 2.5L, and later 2.4L were steel and can be bored and honed and fitted with an oversized piston. I've been told that chrome bore motors cannot be honed or bored b/c of the coating. Apparently the two fixes for the 2.4L chrome bores are re-sleeve or replate the cylinder.
http://www.mt-llc.com/index_home.shtml
http://www.mxratracing.com/cylinder.html
http://www.maxpower-engines.com/mpcpricesend.htm
http://www.mongoosemachine.com/cylinder-plating.htm
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Is there any truth to this?
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http://www.usnicom.com/Why%20plate%2...20resleeve.htm
WHY RE-PLATING IS BETTER THAN RE-SLEEVING !!!
1. Horsepower
YOU CAN LOSE UP TO 3% OF YOUR HP BY RE-SLEEVING A PLATED CYLINDER.
2. Money
Re-sleeving a cylinder can actually cost more than re-plating.
3. Porting
Re-sleeving a cylinder will lose any custom porting that you currently have.
4. Engine Life
Cast iron or steel sleeves wear up to ten (10) times faster than a plated cylinder.
5. Engine Configuration
Cast Iron or steel sleeves can slip & turn in the bore. If this happens your cylinder is worthless.
6. Lubricity
Cast iron or steel sleeved cylinders don't have the lubricity of a plated cylinder.
7. Cooling Properties
Cast iron or steel sleeved cylinders don't transfer heat as efficiently as a plated cylinder.
8. Engine Design
Your cylinder was plated in the first place for a reason...........POWER & PERFORMANCE! Keep that power & performance by replating it with U.S. Chrome.