The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop The Cadillac 261 question with an 848 head.

Great explanation, where I got my brain storm was from a book called "The classic Chevy truck handbook" and then Tom's article on the Cadillac 261. I figured that if I combined the two thoughts I just might be on to something. Page 12 "The classic Chevy truck handbook" the writer states that "you can take off 20 thousandths to give a little more compression and to make sure the deck is flat without hurting a thing on most engines." He continue to write , "with a single-head straight six , shaving .040" off will help raise the compression and not hurt the head (more can be taken off, but combined with the decked block, your compression maybe become too high for pump gas if you do). Just make sure you have the valves recessed a like amount to avoid having the tips of the valves come in contact with the tops of the pistons in operation." I am sure he was talking about the 235 not the 261 however I was thinking the same principles would apply.

Now when I always here the guys talking in the shop about their engines I always hear the phrase I am running a --------.-- compression. I assumed and you know what happens when you assume that's where I got into trouble because I was assuming they were talking about SCR(static compression ratio) and not the DCR(dynamic compression ratio). I have been skooled along with some Drain Bramage. I was hoping it was really that simple. However I now understand that it involves a little more complicated math.

I just was trying to have a specific plan for the machine shop so when I picked up my parts for me to assemble (the fun part). I really admire you guys who have been doing this a long time reading your guys responses make me envious however I am glad to learn from you guys.