piston to head clearance

Bobby Zlatkin · 01-21-2009, 06:03 PM

In early 1975 we built a 350 stocker motor for our '69 Nova using the minimum deck height allowed in the NHRA tech bulletin. Put on a pair of RHS prepared cyl. heads using the Chev steel shim gaskets (.017"). Took the car to the Suffolk, VA Div. 2 points meet May 3rd. and set the J/SA record.

Upon tear down for certification we saw that every piston had been hitting the heads. Only way to salvage that motor was to go to thicker head gaskets. Realized then that you didn't want to cut the deck much more than what you needed just to square the block.

01-21-2009, 06:03 PM	#3
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: piston to head clearance In early 1975 we built a 350 stocker motor for our '69 Nova using the minimum deck height allowed in the NHRA tech bulletin. Put on a pair of RHS prepared cyl. heads using the Chev steel shim gaskets (.017"). Took the car to the Suffolk, VA Div. 2 points meet May 3rd. and set the J/SA record. Upon tear down for certification we saw that every piston had been hitting the heads. Only way to salvage that motor was to go to thicker head gaskets. Realized then that you didn't want to cut the deck much more than what you needed just to square the block. __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA