I posted a pretty good article some years back on the subject....probably lost in space by now lol. Years ago I helped a buddy build an engine...rather he was helping me which I don't like doing. I was doing some machine work while he was supposed to be checking piston to head clearance. When I got done with the parts, he already had the heads on so I just assumed he checked it like he was supposed to have done. This engine went into a 3500+ lb car and it ran a 10.0 right off the trailer. Cool....but after making the 3rd pass and checking plugs etc things weren't so cool when he decided to hit the funny gas button. It blew out a cylinder right off the line at the hit. Upon tearing apart, I found it only had .019 piston/head clearance. After saying to him "you didn't check it before slamming the heads on...." His reply was "I thought you did it" lol. Anyways, we were able to get it back together right this time and it duplicated the some ET and with a small shot (according to him
), it ran 9.30's. Not too shabby for a couple of hicks imo.