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REF: Engine Mechanicals - Sub-02D

Measuring the Volume of a Combustion Chamber

Article by billeuze of the XLFORUM 1)

  • Tools needed:
  • A dial gauge or a degree wheel & piston stop for finding TDC.
  • A Burette. (about a 3 foot long test tube with a valve at the bottom and graduations along the side).
    100ml is the perfect size because you only have to fill it once.
    50ml works but you have to refill it (which makes more room for error).


The forgoing was done with shovelheads on and ironhead case.
The heads were pulled and the ringlands (spaces between the rings) packed with axle grease to stop any fluid getting past the rings.

With the Head On

First, find the top of bore. →This may not be exact TDC since the piston (hovers
at the top a few degrees before the power stroke). →
Lock the crank to hold the piston in place.
On 57-03 engines, you can carefully screw a bolt into the timing hole until it snugs up against the flywheel. You can also place piece of polyethylene tubing in the
timing hole then put the plug back in on top of it pushing the tubing into the flywheel. This puts plenty of friction against the wheels to stop them from rotating.

With the Head Off


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