Top-end rebuild timing compression numbers you trust

[Threx]

When it comes to rebuilding your engine, especially after you've just put the cylinder head back on and tightened everything up, the real moment of truth is checking the compression.

So, what numbers should you be looking for to confidently say it’s “good to go”? And how can you ensure that your timing is spot on?

 

[Apex22]

I wrapped up a small-block rebuild last month.
The compression test had me worried at first, but once all the cylinders were within specs, I felt confident.
I double-checked the timing with a light and my own judgment.

 

[Proxima]

Once I put the head back on my ’78 Chevy I was anxious about the compression test. Luckily the numbers came together after a few adjustments. Adjusting the timing was a careful process but once it fell into place, it ran smoothly.

 

[benchguy]

Over the winter I rebuilt my old 302. With the compression numbers in the factory range we were good to start fine-tuning but getting the timing right took some patience. After a few attempts it finally ran like new