Originally Posted by Hotrod Lincoln
Why not just flycut the piston for valve clearance?

I just looked at an 848 head I've got stashed away, and I can see why notching for valve clearance is not an option- - - - - -A large part of the intake valve overhangs the block, not the piston crown! It would be necesary to flycut a big area of the top of the block beside the piston, and blend that area over into the cylinder above the ring travel with a die grinder to obtain any meaningful valve relief. That's the same problem we encountered many years ago on the flathead Ford- - - -a relieved block made for better breathing, but it lowered the compression ratio. There would probably be a net gain in compression pressure with a radically milled head and a relieved block, but it would be pretty labor-intensive and it would involve some pretty sophisticated volume-checking procedures to equalize the size of the dimples cut into the block.
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!