Parts are back from the machine shop - time for some trial fitting. The rods were shot peened, ARP bolts installed, then resized and balanced. There was about a 7 gram spread from light to heavy and some needed end-to-end balancing. The crankshaft was static and dynamic balanced.... about 7 grams removed from 2 spots. The crankshaft damper and flexplate were balance-checked... they were ok.

If you mess with these engines enough, they'll tell you some secrets <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />:

While measuring the piston/deck clearance to get a number for deck milling, I decided to check all four courners of the block to see how close it is. The first step was to install a piston stop diagonally across #1 bore, run the piston to the stop, set the gauge at a point toward the front of the block in line with the wrist pin, preload the gauge and zero it:
[Linked Image]

Then, the piston stop was removed and the crankshaft turned through a few rotations to find the maximum lift at TDC above the deck. The #1 piston was .015" proud at the forward edge of the deck:
[Linked Image]

After getting the reading, the piston stop was re-installed and the piston run back to the stop to make sure the gauge still read "0" - just a double check to make sure nothing moved during measurement.

Using the same piston/rings/rod combination to eliminate possible variance error, I also checked #2 at the front and #s 5 & 6 to the rear - the four corners of the block. I was amazed at what I found:

#1 = .0150" proud
#2 = .0130" proud
#5 = .0165" proud
#6 = .0160" proud

To make certain there wasn't a geometry error in the wrist pin and bore, I also checked #2 with the piston turned 180 degrees.... same/same.

I would have thought there would be less difference than that. I don't think there's been any core shift because the crankshaft turns too easily and the main bearing clearances are nearly equal from .0018 - .0025.

So, it appears that if I use a .050" gasket, I'll be at a quench height or piston/head clearance of ~.033" unless I have them mill the piston tops, too - probably not necessary, though.

I'll take the block back to the shop tomorrow for deck milling, but before I let them cut the deck, I think I'll have them measure the crank throws - just to make sure the crankshaft is not causing the differences in deck height.

Frank