L-72...AMA specs NEEDED!!!!

[Rowdy Rat]

Rob,

I can understand your frustration with the AMA specifications for the cylinder block. I hadn't realized how little information was there until I looked at it just now.

I checked an old copy of the Chevy Power book and came up with what Joe did; a deck height of .000" to .005" with a .040" composition gasket. The only cars to get composition gaskets in 1969 were those equipped with aluminum heads, which happens to be the application for the .040" gasket (part #3969865 - listed for use with the L-88). Your L-72 would have used a steel shim gasket with a compressed thickness of .021" (part# 330860) which pretty much dictates that your deck height is going to be at least .014" below the deck surface.

Having the piston even with or above the deck surface with the composition gasket should reduce valve shrouding (and be worth a few horsepower), but then, that isn't exactly stock...

Good luck with your decision.

Regards,

Stan Falenski