wedges RULE
Where is Hemi Joel

Most likely goofing off... I'm sure he's making out his Christmas list to include Texas Roadhouse gift certificates, so he can pay up on yet another dinner bet, in 2023.

How close are they to the head?

The piston was .011 above the deck, before this last mess. I have .051 Cometic gaskets. The piston now sits .014 above the deck. Too tight for my liking at this point.

Now don't go dragging my good name into this plebian world of wedgery. Isn't a Buick a wedge?

I am counting on block growth as it warms to increase clearance the head. If we gain . 008 in clearance as it warms. All good. I am thinking I should do a test to make sure. Now to figure out how to heat the lock to about 160,' to find out for certain.

I'd like to think the clearance would be fine with an Aluminum block, but I just am not willing to take any chances at this point. This engine has been 2 years plus in the making. No need to risk it.

What are you shooting for clearance wise Jeff? Mine are .004 below the deck....

I have seen some guys use a propane burner on a large pot of water that circulates water with the electric water pump. That was on an assembled engine though. I thought it was a pretty genius way to heat cycle and retorque stuff with the engine out of the car. Especially on the combo I saw it on, a twin turbo BBC that looked like a nuclear reactor under the hood with all the plumbing lol.

I want .040 piston to head clearance.

Thanks!

Shots fired ! Shots fired !

It was proven 30+ years ago, in a magazine shootout, that a Buick is far superior to a HEMI anything. It predates the internet, so it MUST be true.

.040" piston to head with an aluminum block is plenty conservative......

Right now I'm around .035-.036. The piston has plenty of rock in it. The highest point I saw was .028 above the deck.

Since piston contact happens due to piston rock, (those with more experience chime in if I am missing something) the idea of shaving . 005 off at an angle on the closed side of the chamber might be a way to save a current combo? The angle could be measured with the piston cold in the block, and the actual cut may only extend three quarters of an inch in. JUST THINKEN, 🧐

My old pump gas Duster stroker motor with Ross 22.0 CC dished pistons would touch the heads(knock the carbon off) on the cam side and motor mount sides at .035, but not at .040 clearance
IHTHs

Probably more work to do it that way than it's worth? Fairly easy to just skim .005 off the top. Can I get away with less, while using an aluminum block? Probably, but since this is a bracket engine, and I really don't have the funds to be buying new pistons, once something does go wrong. I'll just adjust the old shoe polish on the window instead.

That is the best way to make it easy on you that I know of

If it were mine I would just send it as is....But I like living on the edge