Deck checking

[BelvedereII]

What procedure do you go through to determine if your 440 needs decked? Are there points to measure to find how square it is to the crank, or is there a special tool to check that dimension? Can you tell on an assembled engine, by measuring each piston at its TDC, whether it's square?

B II

[JVMopar]

Well you can't use the pistons TDC as cranks have been known to be off. The way to check is to measure from the main bearing journal to the deck on the front and the back to make sure they are the same for all 4 measurements. Then use a straight edge to check the deck to see if it's warped. Any good machine shop doing work to a block checks this as it's an easy upsale and the measurements take about 5 minutes tops.

[peg leg]

I believe that all blocks, even new, should be trued before assembly. The machining process is not perfect, and truing correctly will ensure a better sealing surface. We're only talking a few thou here.

[aarracer]

Block's main bearing bores should be align honed first! As they may have a touch of heat cycle core shift!

[BelvedereII]

Thanks, JV, makes sense.

B II