12 replies to this topic

[Rubbershorts]

Hi everyone, Happy New Year and all that. 

 

One of the first projects for this year is sending my head off to Keith Calver for some work. Cooperman is very kindly helping me with advice on what I should have done, and in anticipation for some things I need to do my end to provide Keith with the required data, I'm thinking of purchasing a deck height tool. I believe this job can be done without doing so, but I don't trust myself and measurements on something so vitally important.

 

I'm looking at something like the link below, but I don't want to end up with a bit of crap, which seems to happen a lot these days. As I'm only going to use it the once maybe, I also don't want to spend a fortune.

 

Any thoughts or recommendations for UK based purchases would be as usual greatly received. 

 

Thanks guys, Daz.

 

 

https://www.ebay.co....ction=view_item

Edited by Rubbershorts, 05 January 2026 - 10:06 AM.

[PoolGuy]

My preference has always been a mechanical depth micrometer. I'm sure the one that you've linked to would do the job but I don't have much faith in (relatively) cheap digital gauges.

[Rubbershorts]

My preference has always been a mechanical depth micrometer. I'm sure the one that you've linked to would do the job but I don't have much faith in (relatively) cheap digital gauges.

Thanks Poolguy. This is exactly why I'm asking, the world is full of cheap shizer that is in a lot of cases not even worth owning. Do you have any idea of what I should be looking at to avoid this?

[PoolGuy]

Just popped out to the garage to check, mine is a 'LS Starrett No. 440' which was gifted to me by my engine builder. It's probably a million years old but does the job perfectly.

[whistler]

Don't know if I'm understanding your question correctly but here's what I did. Keith needed to know the piston crown to deck height for him to calculate chamber size in a head he was doing for me. He had supplied the pistons so knew the top ring to crown height and also the bore diameter.

I used a steel ruler edge across the bore and a feeler gauge to measure the distance to the piston crown (flat top pistons). Keith advised me to skim the block with his measurements whilst retaining a 5 thou crown to deck distance.

Don't know if that helps. Basically I was guided by Keith all the way through.

[Rubbershorts]

Don't know if I'm understanding your question correctly but here's what I did. Keith needed to know the piston crown to deck height for him to calculate chamber size in a head he was doing for me. He had supplied the pistons so knew the top ring to crown height and also the bore diameter.

I used a steel ruler edge across the bore and a feeler gauge to measure the distance to the piston crown (flat top pistons). Keith advised me to skim the block with his measurements whilst retaining a 5 thou crown to deck distance.

Don't know if that helps. Basically I was guided by Keith all the way through.

Cheers Whistler. Not that I doubted it, but good to know Keith's guidance comes included in the service.  

[alex-95]

I wouldn’t bother with that, as said above I wouldn’t trust a cheap digital clock. I’d invest in a decent micrometer 0 - 25mm and 25 - 50mm and a 0-25mm depth mic if I didn’t already have them and was planning on building an engine. Measure as much as you can and test fit parts. Measure the crank tail ( to check and possibly have the primary gear bored out with new bushes) and where the cam pulley+ pulley fits.
A lathe and mill is also very handy 😂

[sonscar]

I'm with steel rule and feeler gauges.Steve,

[Gaz66]

I bought a Moore and wright depth micrometer to do mine (not ready to do it yetthough)
Will have to make sure I can read it properly 😬

[imack]

I knocked up a bridge for my dial gauge. Having a few thou of piston protrusion meant a depth gauge wasn't much use.

Attached Files

•  20260105_173925.jpg   40.9K   3 downloads

[Rubbershorts]

I knocked up a bridge for my dial gauge. Having a few thou of piston protrusion meant a depth gauge wasn't much use.

Is that a quality dial imack?

[imack]

No, can't remember where I got it from, probably RDG or Chronos. I've got a decent one but it's metric, and I hate metric!!

[Shooter63]

I'm with imack here, the bridge type is far superior as you can use it for multiple jobs, not only piston depth, but also for finding true TDC for cam timing etc. I made mine from alloy out of the scrap bin and fitted magnets in the base. I did lash out on a mitutoyo DTI just because I like their kit. I wouldn't be too bothered about the quality of the cheaper gauges, I keep one on a mag stand on the back of the cross slide on my lathe for 4 jaw work, it gets covered in all sorts of kack, still works and it's as accurate as any European/Japanese instruments.

 

Shooter