Decking a 350 OEM block － How Much?

[shoedoos]

How much can a 350 Chevy block be decked without getting in to issues with intake alignment etc?

[Makin Scripts]

How much can a 350 Chevy block be decked without getting in to issues with intake alignment etc?

None in my opinion. Alignment generally has to be fought for no matter what<too many aftermarket variations of everything<I guess you could just say it depends on how picky you are.

[Dave Koehler]

How much can a 350 Chevy block be decked without getting in to issues with intake alignment etc?

Not enough info. What is the deck height now? What are you trying to pull off?

[shoedoos]

haven't measured the deck height yet.....assume its oem at 9.025.....trying to cobble together a 3.625 crank with 6" rod and 1.125 piston...My calcs say if the deck is standard I'll have the piston 0.0875 down the bore....any issues chopping that much? Will be using head studs...

[Dave Koehler]

It most likely to be taller than 9.025 and not square or equal.
That's neither here or there.
So, if it is a true grenade in the finest sense cutting that much likely won't be a problem.
You will have to cut the China walls.
Yes, you will have to cut the intake side of the heads or manifold depending on how you value one or the other.

[BillK]

I have one customer that has me mill them all to 9" deck hgt and as far as I know he does not have any issues with intakes. I would think that .087 is definitely going to cause a problem.

If you dont already have pistons I would think it would be a lot easier to just get the piston you need. Most of the manufacturers dont charge a whole lot to make a set with just a different pin hgt.

[shoedoos]

already have the rotating assembly.....looks like I'll be slotting the bolt holts and match porting to re-align the intake along with some milling. Any thoughts on shimming the distributor? Or won't that be an issue?

[Dave Koehler]

Uhhh, are you planning to skip the proper machining steps and Dremel Tool your way to success?
You may want to rethink that.

[shoedoos]

How far out are we talking? And yes, I was going to attack with a nice sharp burr....

[MotionMachine]

I don't remember the exact number, but I cut at least .125" from one last year. In fact I think it was .145". And about 3/4 that amount off the intake rails. Some weird short stroke road race deal I think.

[Dragsinger]

If you have not done so, mock up a piston and rod assembly and measure the exact height. It may not be as far off as you think.

[Dave Koehler]

How far out are we talking? And yes, I was going to attack with a nice sharp burr....

Repeating with different words.
Machine decks to suit.
Machine China rail to match
Machine intake side of heads or intake manifold to fit.
Then see if you have to do any slotting and/or port matching.

[ProPower engines]

How far out are we talking? And yes, I was going to attack with a nice sharp burr....

Repeating with different words.
Machine decks to suit.
Machine China rail to match
Machine intake side of heads or intake manifold to fit.
Then see if you have to do any slotting and/or port matching.

I am doing a similar block as we speak so you will need to take at least the same of each head or intake side as taken from decks just to get close.
No point in trying to lower the port floor its the wrong way to go. If you are using some kind of stock head its easier then an aftermarket head but regardless you need to start with the deck amount off the intake sides of what ever you choose.

[Lizardracing]

How far out are we talking? And yes, I was going to attack with a nice sharp burr....

Repeating with different words.
Machine decks to suit.
Machine China rail to match
Machine intake side of heads or intake manifold to fit.
Then see if you have to do any slotting and/or port matching.

So one ends up spending the same amount of money making it work with all this cutting as buying new pistons with the right Pin Height?

[Dave Koehler]

chuckle, Pretty much but it would be lighter.