How should i go about checking the piston to valve clearence on a engine while doing a dry build?

 

Someone on here must be able to answer this?

 

play dough

 

Stick a small amount in the valve cutouts, fit head then turn over slowly by hand? Remove head then check to see how much its been compressed?

 

Yep, stick something on the top of the pistons that will squash easily, and turn it over.

Check it with the verniers at both ends and in the middle.

Do it without a head gasket, that way the values are 1.3mm more than what you measure

Aim for 2mm minimum IMHO as valves stretch in use, and so do rods!

 

Been told to do it a few times chip, with the verniers at there most extreme settings at some stage as well incase i want to change the timing?

 

Thats right mate, no good findout out that moving hte verniers causes a problem when you are on the dyno, lol