After having an engine builder assemble my shortblock he showed me where it appears I have zero deck, the pistons have -2cc valve reliefs, I am running .040 cometics with Dart heads with 59cc chambers. The cam is a F-14 cam 598/598 232/234 112 LSA. My question... without claying it, would you believe I should still be fine as far as PTV clearance?



The builder told me that rods tend to stretch at 6000 rpms, but I have Scat H-beam rods. The pistons in question are Diamonds.

Also will my 7.425 pushrods be ok with heads that have been milled .030?

 

definitely clay it - the fact that you have milled the heads .030 makes things closer....but you do have valve reliefs already on the pistons....so check with clay!

With the thinner head gaskets, and shaved heads, then I would say you almost definitely need shorter pushrods. Once again, get a pushrod length checker!

 

How can I check it with clay when I have hydraulic lifters that have bled down? I'm sure some would say to temporarly use solid lifters, but I don't have any laying around.

 

It is best to mock the engine up and check for vtp clearance. It is also reccomended to use a mock up spring on the head with a dial indacator to make sure the cam is showing full lift and the plunger on the lifter is not depressing.

 

With an .040 gasket and miled .030 heads, I would bet your pushrod will end up needing to be closer to 7.350.

 

Piston #3 at TDC doesn't look like 0 deck to me.

 

Was .000 deck actually measured or just visual? I would think that cam would clear easily with valve reliefs in the pistons but it is safer to check.