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REF: Engine Mechanicals - Sub-02D

Measuring the Volume of a Combustion Chamber

Article by billeuze of the XLFORUM ¹⁾

Tools:
- 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).
Liquid for Testing:
- Denatured alcohol (with food coloring added for better visibility) is suggested as a fluid medium to measure with since it evaporates.
  However, antifreeze was used in this instance.
  Straight water is not recommended as it may help set up rust in the metal parts.

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 a 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.

Bolt the heads on with the head gasket the same type gasket your intending to run and prop up the engine (head level / cylinder verticle).	Tip it over until the front spark plug is sticking straight up in the air. Brace engine, remove spark plug and hang the burette over spark plug hole.	First, fill the burette to above the mark, then bleed some off the bottom till the level on top is right on the “0” line. Then clamp it above the hole you want to fill.