[vettestr]

The composite gasket crush is about 0.004" but the important issue is what is the actual clearance now. It will not have changed from his Assembly to now even if it has been dis-assembled. Pick 1 piston rod assem. and put it back in a couple of good holes to check clearances. Use clay and a wipe of grease on valve head to keep from sticking to clay. Roll engine through 2 or more full revolutions with valves properly adjusted on that hole. Torque head etc.... to return all to as run condition. Remove head and then cut clay along contact area to expose a visual thickness side view, then use a depth mic. to determine thickness at lowest point.

Steel rod engines should have a min. of 0.080 or the 0.100" mentioned earlier is good also. What it does have is the real issue. Just make sure you reference piston chosen to front of block in each hole measured. Valve lash cold should be about 0.010 tighter as a good ballpark #. Cam timing with chain and gears will be repeatable as 1 tooth off would not run right at all and if gear driven tooth count will tell if possible to assemble wrong. Jeff C