Is decking recomended when rebuilding?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 1
From: New Albany IN
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'06-'08-'09
Is decking recomended when rebuilding?
I have the original block in my '76. I don't want to tak ethe chance of having the numbers milled away(after hearing horror stories here).
When rebuilding, do you, or should you, deck the block?
When rebuilding, do you, or should you, deck the block?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
In a standard rebuild not needed unless the deck is to rough to hold a gasket. There are many other reasons to deck a block but in a mild build-up and no problems with the gasket area there are to many other options to reduce deck height.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
for a mild CR you probably will never run into detonation problems requiring you to reduce quench enough. If you are after performance, i suggest looking for another block and saving this original block...But Manuel, i would like to know what are the other options to reduce deck height, besides custom pistons ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
If for some reason the block must be decked a GOOD machine shop can do it and maintain the numbers. It's an additional step process but many shops will do it if asked. If a shop tells you they can't do that and must deck it and the numbers will be removed, find another shop unless you don't care about matching numbers. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
for a mild CR you probably will never run into detonation problems requiring you to reduce quench enough. If you are after performance, i suggest looking for another block and saving this original block...But Manuel, i would like to know what are the other options to reduce deck height, besides custom pistons ?
Sure when rebuilding the con rods they can be off set hone on the big end some. If your going to bush the small ends they can be offst also. If your buying custom rods tell the builder how long you need the rods. If you grinding the crank or stroking it you can off set the grind for a slight stroke increase. If your block is line bored you can make some up here also. Now most all of these are used to some degree in all out race engines and buy custom parts is no change in requesting a given size of parts. All depends on what you are doing and the end results needed. Hope that helps a bit in understanding what I was saying.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Probaly but the quistion was what are the other ways. All depends on the engine and how much you need to reduce the deck. Like if you need only .005 and you are rebuilding the rods anyway this can be done and should not cost any different from a good shop. Well at lease I never charged more, it was the same set up on my machine anyway. And if you are line honeing anyway yopu gain about .005 also now you got .010 reduced deck. Also be aware of a lot of after market pistons that claim a given deck. Many cast type pistons are sold as stock height when really they have the deck reduced up to .020. They claim this to make up for an over bore comprestion increase.
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