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Way to Determine My Static Compression??

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Old 02-26-2004, 03:31 PM
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Default Way to Determine My Static Compression??

Well to make a long story short there is confusion about what the exact static compression of my forged motor is and I need to know.

How can I go about testing this? Compression tester gives you a PSI right? I heard there is a formula or what not to determine the compression based on the results?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Old 02-26-2004, 05:34 PM
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I think you can add the displacement of the cylinder to the size of the combustion chamber and whatever size valve reliefs you might have. Then divide that total by the size of the combustion chamber and valve reliefs. Seems like they showed this on Shadetree Mechanic once.
Old 02-26-2004, 07:42 PM
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Info from the Grape Ape.

http://www.grapeaperacing.com/GrapeA...ccompratio.cfm
Old 02-27-2004, 12:07 AM
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thanks for the info
Old 02-27-2004, 10:10 AM
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Looks like I'd have to take the motor apart again to get some of the data needed for those equations

Anyone have any other suggestions, please??
Old 02-27-2004, 10:32 AM
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Do a compression test.

If you know the CC of the heads and know what pistons you have you can guess at it. Any OE style flattop is 10:1 or so.
Old 02-27-2004, 11:41 AM
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Guess would be better than nothing right now.

I have TEA Stage II 5.3 heads, can't remember what cc that is.

Diamond flat top pistons with -2CC reliefs in them.
Old 02-27-2004, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by SilverGhost
Guess would be better than nothing right now.

I have TEA Stage II 5.3 heads, can't remember what cc that is.

Diamond flat top pistons with -2CC reliefs in them.
if they're unmilled (just cleaned up) they should be about 63cc
Old 02-27-2004, 12:28 PM
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call some race engine machine shops in your area and ask them if they have a whistler[its a tool that is used at race tracks to check compression, it's inserted into the spark plug hole and using sound waves/frequency.it can determine exact compression[static]. i have one but it wont do you any good because i live in mn.
Old 02-27-2004, 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by triumphman
call some race engine machine shops in your area and ask them if they have a whistler[its a tool that is used at race tracks to check compression, it's inserted into the spark plug hole and using sound waves/frequency.it can determine exact compression[static]. i have one but it wont do you any good because i live in mn.
Awesome. Can you tell me where you got it and how much it was? It will determine exact static compression in ratio terms like 10:1 etc?

I'll just buy it if its not too expensive, would be a good tool to have around.
Old 02-27-2004, 03:35 PM
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62cc and OE flattops would be like <11:1.
Old 02-28-2004, 12:07 AM
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yeah but i have valve reliefs in my diamonds.

my mechanic buddy( steve from park ridge John) said he can test the compression and convert it with a chart he has so i'm gonna try that..
Old 02-28-2004, 03:01 PM
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Here's a quick formula for static compression on a stock engine:

Combustion Chamber Volume = heads cc x .061 (for c.i.) + valve relief cc x .061 + gasket compressed thickness x bore x bore x .7854 (PI devided by 4) for c.i..
Total Cylinder volume = Swept Volume (346 c.i./8cyl) + Combustion Chamber Volume
Static Compression Ratio = Total Cylinder Volume/Combustion Chamber Volume.

For a 62cc head and 2 cc valve relief:
Combustion Chamber = (62+2) x .061 + .053 x 3.900 x 3.900 x .7854
= 3.904 (Heads & valve relief) + .633 (gasket volume) = 4.537 c.i.
Total Cylinder Volume = 43.25 + 4.537 = 47.787 c.i.
Static Compression Ratio = 47.787 (total) / 4.537 (combustion chamber)
= 10.53:1

If the piston is slightly above or below the block deck (stroke/2 + rod length + piston compression height not exactly = 9.255), then the combustion chamber volume needs to be adjusted for that, but it won't change the ratio much. The deck height is normally 9.255 on a stock, unrebuilt block. A typical rebuilt block will have a deck of 9.250 (.005 off) and a bore of 3.905 (.005 cylinder hone) so the number will be slightly different, but again, not much. HTH

Can't proof read!

Last edited by TeeKay; 02-28-2004 at 03:19 PM.
Old 03-01-2004, 09:45 AM
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Pistons come .007 out of the hole and 3.905 is a .007 hone. Piston displacement out of the hole of .007 is the same as a head mill of .012 and it is significant.
The tool for measuring the compression in the car is for dynamic compression and takes into account the lagging intake valve closure and gives the compression after the valve closes and is much lower than static compression.
Old 03-01-2004, 01:30 PM
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Try my site. (You have to log in to use it).

The only way to determine static compression ratio is to measure it. If you have the numbers go here.
Compression Ratio Calculator

I ran some numbers and here's what I came up with:

You Entered:
Bore 3.9 (inches)
Stroke 3.62 (inches)
Rod Length 6.1 (inches)
Cyl. Head Vol. 62 (cc)
Deck Height 0 (inches)
Head Gasket Bore 4.166 (inches)
Head Gasket Thickness 0.052 (inches)
Piston to Cyl. Wall Clearance 0.003 (inches)
Top Ring Land Height 0.25 (inches)
Piston Dome Vol. -2 (cc)

Compression Ratio:
10.365 : 1

Bore / Stroke Ratio:
1.077 : 1

Rod / Stroke Ratio:
1.685 : 1

Total volume:
784.451 cc's

Compressed volume:
75.679 cc's

You can change the numbers and figure out what you have.

As for determining the compression ratio from a compression tester, you can't. With valve timing, overlap, and other things it doesn't come out right. I have a calculator on the site for that too but I would NOT use it to determine my compression ratio.
Old 03-02-2004, 05:45 AM
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The deck height assumes that the TDC is at zero but the pistons come out of the hole by .007". Would that be +.007 for the deck height or -.007?
Old 03-02-2004, 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by SilverGhost
Awesome. Can you tell me where you got it and how much it was? It will determine exact static compression in ratio terms like 10:1 etc?

I'll just buy it if its not too expensive, would be a good tool to have around.
It's built by katech, and is expensive around $1200.00. and it display's static compression 10.1-10.2 ect.
Old 03-02-2004, 10:47 AM
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Nice, thanks for all the replies everyone, I appreciate it.

I really hope my **** isn't at 10.3:1, that would mean its WAY WAY less than what I ordered.

I know my gaskets are thinner than the .52 I think I saw in one of the calculations posted here(thanks for doing all that by the way) I think they are .41.

Looks like I need to try and gather some info here..
Old 03-02-2004, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Spinmonster
The deck height assumes that the TDC is at zero but the pistons come out of the hole by .007". Would that be +.007 for the deck height or -.007?
Enter -0.007 for a piston that is out of the hole at TDC. (hold your mouse over the description field and a pop over will describe what information you should enter in this field. If my descriptions are confusing let me know and I'll change them accordingly.)

Originally Posted by SilverGhost
I know my gaskets are thinner than the .52 I think I saw in one of the calculations posted here(thanks for doing all that by the way) I think they are .41.
I was unsure what the gasket thickness is for an LS1. According to an LS1 spec sheet they list the GM gasket as 0.053" compressed. I do not however know the diameter for that gasket and I used a typical SBC Felpro diameter of 4.166. Changing a couple of things give these results.

You Entered:
Bore 3.9 (inches)
Stroke 3.62 (inches)
Rod Length 6.125 (inches)
Cyl. Head Vol. 62 (cc)
Deck Height -.007 (inches)
Head Gasket Bore 4.0 (inches)
Head Gasket Thickness 0.040 (inches)
Piston to Cyl. Wall Clearance 0.003 (inches)
Top Ring Land Height 0.25 (inches)
Piston Dome Vol. -2 (cc)

Compression Ratio:
10.993 : 1

Bore / Stroke Ratio:
1.077 : 1

Rod / Stroke Ratio:
1.692 : 1

Total volume:
779.702 cc's

Compressed volume:
70.93 cc's
Old 03-02-2004, 11:20 AM
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Ok, so looks like we are getting closer to an answer.

I need to find out if my block was decked, that would change that deck height obviously and therefore raise the compression..I think the block was in fact decked.

Thanks for you help, I like your site by the way, the calculator is pretty sweet..


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