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Piston in the hole depth?

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Old 10-12-2002, 04:08 PM
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Piston in the hole depth?

I measured the depth the pistons of my 357 are in the hole, and they are around .04 to .05 for all them. Is this really bad? Should i get the block decked? Should i just run it this way? I will be running 64 cc heads with flat-top pistons, with a compression ratio around 10.
Old 10-12-2002, 05:31 PM
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That's a little more than usual, but not a problem. I'd leave it alone and run it.
Old 10-12-2002, 08:30 PM
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.040 - .050 deck height works out to very close to 10:1 compression with your combination of parts.

If you zero decked it, the compression would jump to 11.15. You would also need to check piston to valve clearances.
Old 10-13-2002, 01:37 PM
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I was going to deck the block, in order to curb detonation problems. I've heard that a compression height around 0.04" with head gasket is optimal.
Old 10-13-2002, 02:55 PM
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For the amount of difference it will make, you won't be able to tell the difference. At the compression in question, that degree of finessing that detail is a waste of time and money.

Just run it, lots of factory motors come out that way, and work just fine.
Old 10-13-2002, 03:18 PM
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Install your heads with .015" shim gaskets (felpro)
and you'll be fine 9.85:1 -- 10.08:1 depending on deck height.
Old 10-13-2002, 04:11 PM
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My personal choice would not be shim gaskets; the extar couple of tenths of a point of compression aren't worth dealing with blown head gaskets all the time.

I have never yet taken apart a single motor built with shim gaskets - not one - that didn't have at least one combustion leak between cylinders.

A 9.9:1 motor with intact head gaskets will outrun a 10.1:1 motor with blown head gaskets, every time.

Use Fel-Pro 1010 gaskets and enjoy your motor longer.
Old 10-13-2002, 06:15 PM
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I was thinking of maybe using the Mr. Gasket .018" gasket, what do you guys think? Is it a good gasket?
Old 10-13-2002, 06:20 PM
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Same issue. Don't. Just go with the stuff that won't break. The tiny difference in theoretical performance that you'll never notice is a fair tradeoff for the lack of reliability, which you definitely will notice.
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