Pistons sticking up from factory?

[AWDTalonDE]

I was wondering if my pistons should be sticking up .005 from the factory?

 

[GVR4592]

Usually they're "in the hole" not above the deck. That seems odd to me for a stock engine. Are you sure the block hasn't been resurfaced? .005" isn't a lot, but with the compressed thickness of .042" for a stock composite head gasket, things might be getting a little too close. The only way to know for sure would be to clay the engine. Or you could get a thicker gasket.

 

[AWDTalonDE]

The funny thing is it isn't even .005 its actually .011. A guy on here sold me a shortblock and said nothing was wrong and after my shop did some measurements and I told him he said he won't refund me because .011 is fine. He also said it comes stock like .005.

 

[GVR4592]

Maybe I'm wrong about the deck height, I'll have to look it up in the FSM.

 

[GVR4592]

I'm finding conflicting information so I can't say for sure if the are supposed to be above deck or below. I don't know why but for some reason I just assumed they were below deck on factory engines.

 

[AWDTalonDE]

Yeah I'd appreciate that.

I'm really in need of information if .011 above deck is usable because he is saying he won't refund me because there is nothing wrong with it.

 

[Daveed]

You can use a thicker headgasket. HKS makes a 1.2 and 1.6mm thickness gaskets. I've also seen a thicker than stock copper one for situations like yours with either shaved heads or blocks.