I remember hearing that when checking the valve to piston clearance it is best done without a headgasket. You can get whatever thickness gasket that will put your setup within spec.

Is this a valid statement? What are the benefits of checking without using a hg?

 

You run a stock head gasket, measure the clearance and then decide if you need a thicker/thinner gasket.

 

you could do it either way. if you do it without the gasket and you have say .050" clearance and you are going to run a .030" gasket then you will have .080" which would be sufficient with a steel rod.

the benefit of checking it without the gasket would be not tightening the head to the block and then taking it back off with your new gasket.

and i wouldnt base your HG thickness on piston to valve. set your quench at what you want and if your PtoV is too tight, i would flycut the piston.

 

Are you sure this is correct, shoudnt it be

clearance without gasket + (gasket thickness*cosA)
where A is the valve angle from the vertical (perpendicular to the block)

 

Thanks for the reply and I understand all of that, I was just wondering if there was some "other" reason.