What is a good way to see if a deck is true?

[Sledgehammer]

I am getting ready to assemble one of my motors but I want to check to see if the deck is true.

What are some of the ways to check this?

-Eric-

[ROB]

Eric:

The only way you're going to do this in a garage at home on an engine stand is with a straight edge and feelers.

You can do smaller areas with a bridge & indicator but you really have to be able to check a span as long as your cylinder head to see anything meaningful.

Approx. .003" max out of flat is about all that you'll want to see.

[Sledgehammer]

thanks.....now I need to find a good piece of metal that can be used as a straight edge.

[Chris Uratchko]

Well, I wouldn't just use a good piece of metal as a straight edge. You really need something that has a machined edge. You may think you have a good flat piece of metal but .010 out and you wouldn't see it.... and you'll have a false reading.

[k-star]

Are you trying to find out if the deck is flat or if it's the same distance from the crank centerline on both sides, front to rear????

Keith