Engine decked too much?

beast_3

beast_3

Member
My '30 Tudor engine needs new bearings, and I suspect a total rebuild. It's NOT the original block but a '29 block.
I have the original block and I'm thinking of rebuilding it. However it's very rusty after sitting in a horse barn for the past 25 years and I'm sure it will need to have the head decked.
Is there a way to measure the cylinder bores or some other area to insure there's enough steel left to resurface the head deck?
Thanks!
Beast3
 
The original distance from the deck surface to the pan rail surface is 11". There is a +/- variation but I don't know it.
 
First, the likelihood of it ever being decked previously is slim. Maybe James can offer his "odds" from experience. The original spec was total height of 11.5", -0/+.005".
 
Thanks Vince and Marco. I didn't have my material in front of me when I posted. I believe it would take several cuttings toruin a block. Most times it only takes .003 to .007 thou to clean one up and you could probably cut .020 or .030 to get to a critical state. Even then the pistons could be cut a few thou and make the block work. You might have to cut the valve stems to be able to adjust them but that is minor.
 
It doesn't take much to clean what appears to be a really pitted deck, and you don't need it clean 100%, just where the gasket seats. The cylinders can safely be bored to 4" without worry.
 
On an otherwise good deck I've filled a few deep pits with JB Weld to give the gasket good support. This works fine and saves grinding away too much deck surface.
 
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