malibu350

Does anyone know how to do a piston to valve clearance check, if you don't have a solid lifter or lighter spring??? Any help would be appreciated.

needmoremoney

all I did was put playdo (CLAY) on the piston, put the head on (no gasket) put a few bolts in, install the intake/exhaust rockers, pushrods, and hand turn the motor over twice, being very carefull. Take the heads of, and look at the clay. I have a digital micrometer, i measured the deepest indention in the clay and added .53 for the head gasket. Does this help at all?

malibu350

so I take it you had no problem at all? That does help to know that it will still work? Did you do anything w/the lifters at all??? Thanks again!!!

needmoremoney

Ya I had a problem, as soon as i looked at the clay, I saw a fine (HAIRLINE) scratch on the piston I had to exchange my 5.7's for SII 5.3's

malibu350

What type of cam and rockers were you running? What were the heads decked at? Valve sizes? The reason that I'm asking is because I have some heads that are decked .040. W/ 2.02 and 1.6 valves, crane 1.8 rockers, and the ASA cam. W/ 525/525 lift and 226/236 duration. I've been told that I will have no problems but I want to make sure that I wont. Thanks

needmoremoney

I can almost bet, that you might/will have a clearance issue I was going to run 5.7 SII heads milled .30, as soon as they came, I did the clay trick, and sure enough, they hit the piston. The rockers i was using were the stockers. The valve sizes were 2.02/1.55. My new heads that are coming are 5.3 heads milled .05 SII 2.02/1.57, and now im using the new yella terra 1.7 shaft roller rockers . Wish me luck

malibu350

WEll then let us all say a prayer to the car gods that I'm fortunate and nothing goes wrong...

needmoremoney

Good luck

robertbartsch

Cometic sells thicker-than-stock gaskets if you like or you can flycut the pistons...

...i think thunder racing rents a seatless head with a cutter for this exact purpose...