Brumbach

Can you recommend an affordable, quality piston deck height gauge?

Thanks,

MikeM

I use a dial indicator to find tdc then lay a straight edge across the cylinder and measure the gap with a feeler gauge. That's your deck clearance.

Hitch

While Mike's way will work I'm not sure that I would trust a feeler gauge for this.

Dave

vetrod62

And measure it where the wrist pin is.

Allcoupedup

I used the "other" end of a $10 digital micrometer. Feeler gauge doesn't work well with domed pistons because you need to measure to the flat covers the circumference of the piston face.



Brian

Allcoupedup

Oops - I meant to say a digital caliper gauge.

(see the right end of the tool in the attached picture)

67L36Driver

Yup, dial or digital calipers. Every gearhead needs one.

I have outside and inside and depth micrometers in the tool box but I always reach for my dial calipers first.

MikeM

You can also use the dial indicator to read the block, the flat of the piston and the dome. Add/subtract as required to get the info you want.

There's more than one way to do it.

Scott Marzahl

Isn't the OP using flat tops anyway. If so, the feeler guage method and straight edge works fine.

midyearvette

every body has their own way but mike's is fine if you use the go-nogo method with the feelers......

jeff batchelor

Just use the dail indicator for both.

Brumbach

Not sure what OP means but think you're referring to me. Yes, I'm using flat tops.

street62

I use a dial indicator to find TDC,then I measure the deck hight at the rist pin centerline with a depth mike , (above or below the deck of the block). But also check piston rock 90 degrese to the rist pin.

Scott Marzahl

"OP" means Original Poster

MikeM

What it boils down to is, how precise do you want to be or even need to be.

Brumbach

Well I certainly like your inexpensive means of measuring. I don't desire to be any more precise than is necessary to properly select the head gasket thickness with an eye on quench and resulting CR.

midyearvette

if you are running iron heads and have proper deck height use the steel shim gaskets.....jmo....

Scott Marzahl

If I recall from earlier posts you had the block decked and maybe the heads milled so those are variables to keep in mind when it comes to fitting the intake and selecting a head gasket for your target CR. Are you going to cc the heads as well?

Here are just a few of the many head gaskets available that Duke Williams put together for your reference:
Felpro 1094 Shim, coated 4.100" .015"
Victor Reinz 1178SSB stainless steel 4.100 .020"
ROL 31600 Shim, coated 4.090" .024"
GM 3830711 Shim, painted 4.080" .026"
Victor Reinz 5746 Composition 4.100" .026"
Felpro 1043 Composition 4.080" .039"
ROL HG31000HT Composition 4.125" .045"

Brumbach

I've crudley measured the head volume @ 67 cc. Thanks a bunch for this listing. Bill

Westlotorn

Another tool used to measure clearance, piston to cyl head and valve to piston is clay.
Clay is moldable and you can mock up the engine with clay thinly spread over the valve pocket or on the dome. Rotate the engine by hand and pull the head and measure the thickness of the clay. This is done on High performance engines where valve pocket clearance is very close or dome to head clearance is very close. Use the gasket you plan to run for the mock up. Clay will compress and mold giving you the information you are searching for. If using flat tops this is not necessary except for valve pockets should you be using a larger cam or larger diameter valves.