heads decked?

[FrankyZ]

Having my Firebird rebuilt and brought back from the dead and the mechanic I have doing to rebuild seems very savy comes highly recommended. He does allot of funny cars, sand rails and hi performance builds out here. Anyway as we were talking he sold me on flat top pistons and having the head decked, I wasnt quite sure what this is. I felt kind of dumb cuz I thought i was pretty tech savy and didnt ask anyway just curious if someone could explain this to me lol thanks.

[ssms5411]

Re: heads decked?

I believe this is just milling the heads to either get a more of a flat surface or to up the comp. if your going for more Hp.

[xmetallicaxguitaristx]

Re: heads decked?

It sounds like he wants to up your compression. Our pistons stock are dished right (I'm like 99.9% sure they are I forgot though)? Did you just want a stock rebuild or do you want a faster firebird? IMO while the engine is getting rebuilt you should add some toys if you know what I mean.

[RadRacer]

Re: heads decked?

Stock pistons are dished.

[FrankyZ]

Re: heads decked?

Yes, he's doing some other upgrades for me nothing major but supposed to add about 30 ponies whens all done and said. I should end up running with the compression at around 10:1 further down the road I would like to add a turbo with some mild boost, so I didnt want to get the compression up there.

[RadRacer]

Re: heads decked?

If you're going turbo, I would have left the compression alone. Higher compression=less boost.

[xmetallicaxguitaristx]

Re: heads decked?

If you're going turbo, I would have left the compression alone. Higher compression=less boost.

Well he would just have to get an extremely efficient turbo + intercooler

[FrankyZ]

Re: heads decked?

Im not looking for monster turbo power just more pep. Who knows maybe with the internal work and a new exhaust system and headers I'll be happy. Maybe a nitrous system would be a better way to go. That was my original plan but after doing more research I figured I would end up spending alomst a comparable amount on a nitrous set up as i would on a turbo.

[ssms5411]

Re: heads decked?

Nitrous does like compression.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: heads decked?

You better make sure that the "decking" and flat top pistons will allow for proper valve travel or you're going have a mess when you start it and ram the valves into the top of the pistons!

[xmetallicaxguitaristx]

Re: heads decked?

And if the heads aren't milled PERFECTLY straight you could have just as big of problems.. IE the camshaft snapping or getting extremely worn very fast, and more forward pressure (trying to leave the engine) because the whole valvetrain is off-center.

[bigbrian442]

Re: heads decked?

I would just say if your upping the compression you better plan on getting it tuned.

[ninety4three4]

Re: heads decked?

And if the heads aren't milled PERFECTLY straight you could have just as big of problems.. IE the camshaft snapping or getting extremely worn very fast, and more forward pressure (trying to leave the engine) because the whole valvetrain is off-center.

you have hydraulic lifters that will take the slop of a slight distortion in the head the only way your gonna have anything that you are talking about is if the thing was off by 1/2 an inch and it wouldnt come close to torqueing down so if hes getting them cut i think that any half way ****ty machine shop would get them within .0002" so dont scare the poor guy hes not trying to do it himself with an angle grinder!!

[ninety4three4]

Re: heads decked?

Well he would just have to get an extremely efficient turbo + intercooler

efficiency of the turbo really dosent effect the main killer of pistons in gasoline engines, detonation, which equates to having the need for a very efficient fuel and spark system, you could run 10.1 compression boosted you would just need higher octane fuel (race gas) or less boost to do it safely...

[Camarodragcar2002]

Re: heads decked?

My question is how much you milling these heads?