LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Heads "MILLED" .030

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Old Oct 2, 2011 | 09:27 AM
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Default Heads "MILLED" .030

This motor is done, rings cracked or broken, warped heads, Its was OVERHEATED x 10.(i got the car cheap)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-modifications-31/

Bumping up compression by milling the heads .030, can the lt1 rocker arms be shimmed like the old 5.0s? I know about the intake issues. Shims are super cheap compared to a new set of pushrods.

Last edited by my number 1 hater; Oct 3, 2011 at 06:07 PM.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 09:26 AM
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I cant be the only guy "MILLING" LT1 heads .030

Last edited by my number 1 hater; Oct 3, 2011 at 06:07 PM.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 09:42 AM
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On my first LT1 car I owned I overheated the car bad and warped the heads. I had a mechanic pull the heads and he sent them to be decked. Come to find out they had already been decked before. I cant remember the exact number they were decked but I know it was a lot more than .030, seems like it was over .050

He had to drill out the intake to get it to bolt back up. I dont have any idea if he shimmed the rockers or not or if you even can. I was 17 at the time and knew next to nothing about cars.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 10:08 AM
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mine are decked about .055 or more.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 12:15 PM
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I believe the word "deck" refers to the deck height of a block. You deck a block for straightness and to get the desired quench area/ volume.
Heads are "milled" to get the desired combustion chamber volume.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 12:39 PM
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lol...decked, milled..its all done on a mill...just terminology
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 12:49 PM
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just got min e decked .020 and my freinds are decked .030 and his runs fine didnt have to mess with the intake for fitment or anything
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by lt1-xjs
I believe the word "deck" refers to the deck height of a block. You deck a block for straightness and to get the desired quench area/ volume.
Heads are "milled" to get the desired combustion chamber volume.
Fixed.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 06:23 PM
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I used a Mr. Gasket .026 Gasket to lower my compression.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 07:06 PM
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Mine are milled .030 and use .026 gaskets. I opened up the intake bolts and got new PRs. 0 problems or leaks.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by 99.9percenter
I used a Mr. Gasket .026 Gasket to lower my compression.
You mean raise it?

The LT1 heads can handle .030 or more BUT if they overheated that bad the castings could be soft and you could have perpetual head gasket issues.

Have you looked at the LT1's valvetrain? Exactly what do you want to shim?

I never touched a Ford 5.0l which is all I can guess you are talking about, but the gen 1 and gen 2 smallblock use adjustable valvetrain and came in a 5.0l flavor.
After milling the geometry will be a little compromised but should be serviceable with stock rockers yet.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
You mean raise it?

The LT1 heads can handle .030 or more BUT if they overheated that bad the castings could be soft and you could have perpetual head gasket issues.

Have you looked at the LT1's valvetrain? Exactly what do you want to shim?

I never touched a Ford 5.0l which is all I can guess you are talking about, but the gen 1 and gen 2 smallblock use adjustable valvetrain and came in a 5.0l flavor.
After milling the geometry will be a little compromised but should be serviceable with stock rockers yet.
The OLD 5.0s we would mill the heads down .030 and just add .030 shims under each rocker and torque the rocker. DONE

Let me get this straight. The stock lifter with soak up the .030 takin from the head milling? Thats alot for a lifter to take.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by AChotrod
Mine are milled .030 and use .026 gaskets. I opened up the intake bolts and got new PRs. 0 problems or leaks.
Pushrods cost alot more than shims, but i dont know if i can shim LT1 heads. So do you have a part number, price, where did you buy those custom length pushrods?
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 09:55 PM
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I never said the lifter would take it.
I did ask if you looked at the LT1's valvetrain and what you thought you were going to shim?

These have adjustable valvetrain.
Like I said I never worked on a 302 but I believe they were non-adjustable, hence the shims, different setups and you are miss-applying your experience.

Pull a valvecover and I think you will quickly understand.
The difference will be made up at the rocker arm nut.
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Old Oct 3, 2011 | 10:44 PM
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You will not have intake or valvetrain geometry issues with only a .030 mill. Any differences will be adjusted at the rocker arm...you wouldn't need new pushrods either if you are using the same valves/cam/lifters/rockers.

Intake seal can be suspect if you flat mill way too much, but if you are asking for that much of a milling that it would be an issue, most shops will suggest angle milling to compensate which maintains proper intake sealing.
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Old Oct 4, 2011 | 12:53 AM
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They arent custom. Just measure and order the correct TFS hardened PRs. I went with Manely.
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Old Oct 4, 2011 | 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
I never said the lifter would take it.
I did ask if you looked at the LT1's valvetrain and what you thought you were going to shim?

These have adjustable valvetrain.
Like I said I never worked on a 302 but I believe they were non-adjustable, hence the shims, different setups and you are miss-applying your experience.

Pull a valvecover and I think you will quickly understand.
The difference will be made up at the rocker arm nut.
POOP TICKETS!!! I can see whats up!

I pulled an old 302 head and my LT1 head. They are very different. I can see how the 302 only needs to be torqued. The rocker nut just bottoms out on the stud.NON adj.

The LT1 rocker arm will just keep pushing the lifter down till its bottoms out.
There is alot to play with there. No shims needed.
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Old Oct 7, 2011 | 11:08 AM
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NOW i need a good price on some valve spring... Any ideas???? lift is 525.. Does the LT1 really run the old SBC springs?
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Old Oct 7, 2011 | 12:47 PM
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HOT cam or Edelbrock?
Strictly new or open to bargains?
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Old Oct 7, 2011 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
HOT cam or Edelbrock?
Strictly new or open to bargains?
New if it's a good price.. Im open to all ls1tech member bargins
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