"Mike wrote:

Hello Neil, good question, I think the liner can't move up because the head gasket and head prevent it doing that, but there is always the risk a liner can be pulled downwards if there is no lip, you are relying on a interference fit, and nowadays, some fancy glues.

As you know Neil, living in the USA has many advantages at times, including when you are trying to save a old Cat, because there are so many more spare parts options there, compared to Australia and your old home country, beautiful New Zealand.
All the best
Mike

IMO an interference fit the length of 12 or so inches will hold that insert tight for 100 years without the step at bottom even if it locked up.
You will be reassured of this Mike when the time comes to press these new inserts in, which will be a game in it's self. A slug will have to be machined up that is a neat fit in the top of them.
Its always a test when pressing thin walled sleeves as you know and over that length would make me very nervous. I personally wouldn't use any glue Mike. My reason, If you get the sleeve half way in and run into trouble the glue will take hold
before you get the sleeve home, than you are committed with nowhere to go except machine it out, throw away, start again. Pressing anything that length is always a test for any Guy and his measuring equipment.
If it were mine I wouldn't be putting the new inserts in fridge before hand either. this will give you a false indication of the interference. I like to get a feel of the interference while hanging off the handle on the press, if things become too tight
than I would wave a flame over the thirtys cast bore to warm it. Any cast conducts heat well, it will increase in diameter quickly letting you send the insert home.
Loctite is very good stuff. I have seen it lock stuff solid which were a size for size fit ( zero Interference )
No doubt the company in Wagga mentioned will handle it no worries if they've done them before and will press them in for you no worries, this would be the way to Go.
I'll come for the Drive to wagga I'd be interested to have a look. Otherwise Mike, Langfields freight do Deni to Wagga Daily if needed.

Thanks Riverina D4 for your opinion, being a qualified Fitter and Turner, and having fitted liners yourself, is good experience worth listening to, I guess I tend to over think things sometimes, trying to return a old Cat back to new spec, ready for another 10,000 hours hard work, I'm sure 98% of people would just throw a new set of rings into that old worn out engine and call it good, and the tractor would probably start easy and run well, maybe burning a half gallon of oil a day if it was working hard, here I am thinking about spending several thousand dollars on a tractor that will do maybe 5 hours a year sight seeing around the farm.

Byron Heal and his Dad Les in England made brand new cylinders for the Thirty back to original blue print spec a few years ago, he contacted me yesterday and suggested they could easily look at doing more if there was any interest from others to buy them, I've asked him for a rough idea of cost because it would be interesting to compare that option to re-sleeving my old cylinders at $700 each.

I know our new Aussie ACMOC President, Ol Wombat, is very keen to see the Club supply more parts to members around the world, and talented guys like Byron and Les Heal, Scott Flint, Wyocat and others could be part of that journey, because we need more good, back to original spec parts.

I'm building a new laundry for Anna the Saint right now, trying to gather a few badly needed brownie points.......
Have a good weekend
Mike

G'Day Mike, Just looking at You Numbers re Thirty's and 35's in Aust. I know of 6- 30's in Qld. and 1 in NSW and 2 35' s here in Qlg Don't know what population in Republic of Victoria, does Drayl Marshall have a 35 ? know he has i of two R5'5 , should give him a ring, Cheers LJ