Is there any disadvantage to running the piston .013 out of the hole vs lets say a true zero deck? Finally making some progress with a 400/511 build and the finished deck is 9.969. It needed cut .011 to be square. We were planning to run the Icon 837.033. Or the 440 source piston. Also Icon? Anyway that piston listed is .002 above a stock deck I believe. If my math is correct with our block, we would be approx. .013 out of the hole. So with a .060 head gasket quench would be .047 and compression ratio 11.15. Or a .051 gasket would get us .038 quench and 11.35. Planning to run a small mix of race fuel the target compression ratio is 11:1. If the piston deck isn't an issue what quench would be preferred with the two different gaskets? Or my only other option to get a zero deck would be custom piston.

I posted a similar question a number of years back. I run the 440Source piston in a 528" stroker. The pistons were supposed to sit .009 in the hole and use a .039 head gasket for a quench of .048. However, after squaring the decks the slugs are .016 OT of the hole! The deck finish is not suitable for MLS gaskets and the thickest composition I could find at the time were Felpro 1105's at .052 thick. Do the math and that's .036 quench . Virtually every reply to my post said that wasn't enough, that the pistons would likely kiss the head. But since I had virtually no other option I installed them.

Keeping the issue in the back of my mind I continued searching and came across SCE Gaskets who make a broad range of thicknesses of solid copper gaskets. But pretty dam pricey !!

Jump ahead to present day - the motor still hasn't been fired but the day is coming. At the Toronto Motorama I quizzed Nick (of Nick's Garage fame on Youtube) about my issue. His (very hesitant) opinion was to run it. However, with so much invested I've decided to bite the bullet and I ordered the SCE gaskets - .062" thick which will yield .046 quench. If nothing else, I'm sleeping better !! Now my pushrods might be .010 too short !!

Not sure if I saw or replied to your earlier post. But real world experience as opposed to some of the “opinions” posted here in the past.
We have run a set tight as .026” piston to head and it resulted in a clean piston at the closest spots relative to the chamber.
Just a slight edge left on the piston from the chamber.
And no, it never locked up or pinched the top ring.

well I’ve often wondered how anything could fill that gap. .003 bearing clearance, maybe another .0005 in the pin. The ret would have to be expansion and piston rock and I can’t imagine the piston rocking that much. Anyhow, it’s not a race motor so a tad less quench won’t be noticeable.

I posted a similar question a number of years back. I run the 440Source piston in a 528" stroker. The pistons were supposed to sit .009 in the hole and use a .039 head gasket for a quench of .048. However, after squaring the decks the slugs are .016 OT of the hole! The deck finish is not suitable for MLS gaskets and the thickest composition I could find at the time were Felpro 1105's at .052 thick. Do the math and that's .036 quench . Virtually every reply to my post said that wasn't enough, that the pistons would likely kiss the head. But since I had virtually no other option I installed them.

Excellent thanks for all the replies. I wanted to end up with .040 or so quench. Just looked at Cometic's site and they list a .056 gasket. That will give me .043 quench, that may be a good compromise between the other two thickness and a little piece of mind.