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  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
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Piston compression height/deck height clearance confusion

  • Thread starter Thread starter A_Code_Kiwi
  • Start date Start date Apr 29, 2009

A_Code_Kiwi

New Member
Aug 7, 2005
13
0
0
Formerly New Zealand, Currently Canada
Apr 29, 2009
#1
  • Apr 29, 2009
  • #1
So I'm in the process of finalising the list of parts for my rebuild and I'm kinda confused about a few things....mainly to do with deck height clearance and compression height.
I'm looking a replacing the pistons in my bone stock 289 with a set of the following:

Keith Black/KB Pistons KB281-STD - Keith Black Hypereutectic Pistons

The compression height of stock 289 pistons is listed at 1.600" and the keith black ones are 1.608. Does this mean that assuming my deck height clearance is .016" to begin with, it'll now be .008" with the new KB281 flat tops or am I totally missing it? Will I have any clearance problems using these pistons? I'm going to be reusing the stock heads after a port/polish and valvetrain upgrade along with a few other improvements/refreshments. The valves will be staying original size though. If these are'nt the right ones to get then what do y'all recommend?
Also do I need to get pistons with 2 valve reliefs or 4?

Thanks
 

A_Code_Kiwi

New Member
Aug 7, 2005
13
0
0
Formerly New Zealand, Currently Canada
Apr 30, 2009
#2
  • Apr 30, 2009
  • #2
blkfrd said:
Is your deck squared off?
Click to expand...

Well, at this stage the motor hasn't been torn down yet. It's kinda hard to when you're more than 12,000 miles away from the car I'm kinda working on a preliminary shopping list and wanted to get all my ducks in a row and see what I'm in for before I start the project.

I do plan on having the machine shop do a light surface planing of the decks to ensure all is square. I guess any decent machine shop would check that anyway right? I'm gonna reuse the stock rods after they're reconditioned/hardened and for sure will be using ARP bolts. That one's a no brainer
I guess if I have to I can always use a thicker head gasket to give me a little more clearance. I was gonna use a felpro performance head gasket with a compressed thickness of .039". Any good or should I go thicker?

Thanks for the help. This place is a gold mine of knowledge. Never ceases to amaze me
 
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