piston deck ss engine

Weekend Racer · 03-24-2013, 07:40 PM

I have an issue with my small block chevy . The piston is .002 over the block on the left cylinder bank and .002 down on the right bank . Is it legal to use a thicker head gasket to correct the piston deck clearence ?

Thank!

Greg Reimer 7376 · 03-24-2013, 07:48 PM

Yes. The .004" difference probably would be insignificant otherwise. Next time its down for a rebuild, get the deck heights equalized.

race watcher · 03-24-2013, 08:26 PM

I am not sure you can run a deck above block. That is the way the rule use to read.

Jody Lang · 03-24-2013, 10:34 PM

If deck height is suppose to be below deck that's what it has to be. Even when it's suppose to be above block it has to be above.

At least that's the way I remember it.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 03-25-2013, 11:22 AM

Oops. I didn't remember the legality of that issue. I never had a plus deck engine like that. Better find a way to make it a minus deck engine. If you have rods with the small end bushed, it might be wise to rebush them and offset the pin bore a few thousandths. Otherwise, it's block time again.Best wishes on your project!!

Ed Wright · 03-25-2013, 11:39 AM

Since we are talking an SS engine, just deck the pistons.

Mark Yacavone · 03-25-2013, 03:16 PM

Guys , That plus deck , minus deck rule had been rescinded 6-7 years ago.
I remembered that, but I called the guys at Rick Watters to confirm.
They build them either way as long as the math adds up, and have been for a while.

DIV3CR · 03-25-2013, 03:26 PM

Check section 11a pg 3" Gaskets" in 2013 NHRA rule book

STK1217 · 03-25-2013, 06:16 PM

In the STOCK section 10A page 4 in the ruel book under GASKETS.

Weekend Racer · 03-25-2013, 09:29 PM

Good! It's very clear in the rule book. Yes, you can use a thicker head gasket to compensate for the deck height being insufficient.

Class racer is full of good tech info .
Thank! everybody for your help.
Sincerely!

03-24-2013, 07:40 PM	#1
Weekend Racer Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: P.Q. Posts: 68 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	piston deck ss engine I have an issue with my small block chevy . The piston is .002 over the block on the left cylinder bank and .002 down on the right bank . Is it legal to use a thicker head gasket to correct the piston deck clearence ? Thank!

03-24-2013, 07:48 PM	#2
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,132 Likes: 172 Liked 698 Times in 216 Posts	Re: piston deck ss engine Yes. The .004" difference probably would be insignificant otherwise. Next time its down for a rebuild, get the deck heights equalized.

03-24-2013, 08:26 PM	#3
race watcher Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 50 Likes: 5 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: piston deck ss engine I am not sure you can run a deck above block. That is the way the rule use to read.

03-24-2013, 10:34 PM	#4
Jody Lang Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 306 Likes: 28 Liked 89 Times in 28 Posts	Re: piston deck ss engine If deck height is suppose to be below deck that's what it has to be. Even when it's suppose to be above block it has to be above. At least that's the way I remember it.

03-25-2013, 11:22 AM	#5
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,132 Likes: 172 Liked 698 Times in 216 Posts	Re: piston deck ss engine Oops. I didn't remember the legality of that issue. I never had a plus deck engine like that. Better find a way to make it a minus deck engine. If you have rods with the small end bushed, it might be wise to rebush them and offset the pin bore a few thousandths. Otherwise, it's block time again.Best wishes on your project!!

03-25-2013, 11:39 AM	#6
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: piston deck ss engine Since we are talking an SS engine, just deck the pistons. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

03-25-2013, 03:16 PM	#7
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,789 Likes: 2,881 Liked 5,077 Times in 1,935 Posts	Re: piston deck ss engine Guys , That plus deck , minus deck rule had been rescinded 6-7 years ago. I remembered that, but I called the guys at Rick Watters to confirm. They build them either way as long as the math adds up, and have been for a while. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

03-25-2013, 03:26 PM	#8
DIV3CR Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: WISCONSIN Posts: 50 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: piston deck ss engine Check section 11a pg 3" Gaskets" in 2013 NHRA rule book

03-25-2013, 06:16 PM	#9
STK1217 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 136 Likes: 44 Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts	Re: piston deck ss engine In the STOCK section 10A page 4 in the ruel book under GASKETS. Last edited by STK1217; 03-25-2013 at 06:19 PM.

03-25-2013, 09:29 PM	#10
Weekend Racer Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: P.Q. Posts: 68 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: piston deck ss engine Good! It's very clear in the rule book. Yes, you can use a thicker head gasket to compensate for the deck height being insufficient. Class racer is full of good tech info . Thank! everybody for your help. Sincerely!