"Squish" problems

[Charlie ny]

Consider covering the pistons and valve heads with a light coat of dark grease then installing each head with 4 finger tight bolts, turn the motor over by hand a few times and then remove the head/s and see the witness marks left by the grease. What you see of course are the areas of interference. You may be surprised with the mismatch between the crowns of the piston and the location of the chambers. In my experience
every flathead I've done one bank favors 3 o'clock the other bank favors 9 o'clock.
It's not good to assume the location of the cylinders (pistons) and the location of the
chambers are the same. I relieve the contact areas with a die grinder and go at it again.
I strictly use BEST gaskets from VanPelt, they squash down to .040 after torquing which gets me where I want to be after after massaging the chambers to 100% true location to the pistons.
Charlie ny

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by Charlie ny

I strictly use BEST gaskets from VanPelt, they squash down to .040 after torquing which gets me where I want to be after after massaging the chambers to 100% true location to the pistons.
Charlie ny

Question, do the gaskets squash to .040 or after torquing is the head to piston gap .040?