Inliners International Forums General Discussion Hi Performance How to figure deck height and compression height

If the crank is still in place but the pan is off, you can get very close by holding a straight-edge to the pan rail. The measurement from the top of the edge (the rail surface) to the top of the bore is also the deck height. This is only true of "skirtless" blocks, not of extended or "Y" blocks.
Alternative: if the front bearing ID (with the bearing in place) is known (stovebolt is 2.684"), you can also just use 1/2 the "official" ID (1.342"), which will be accurate to within a few thousandths.