Checked piston to deck clearance w/ a bridge and dial indicator.
I took a measurement just above the cylinder on the block, and just below the cylinder on the block. Then took a measurement of the piston center. I averaged the 2 bigger numbers, and subtracted the piston numbert to get my depth of the piston in the cylinder. Did this for Cylinders 1, 2, 7, & 8. See results below with an example...

Cylinder #8
Top, just above cylinder... 0.296" registered on the indicator
Bottom, just below cyl......0.287" registerd on the indicator
Avg those 2 numbers ......0.292"
Piston raised the indicator 0.204"
0.292-0.204 = ~0.088" depth of piston from deck at TDC

Cylinder 1 = 0.091"
Cylinder 2 = 0.091"
Cylinder 7 = 0.094"
Cylinder 8 = 0.088"

With 0.025" the standard number thrown out around here for typical stock piston to deck height...

I double checked what I did.

Any ideas why the numbers turned out like this? Gasket material is removed. Used center of piston...hmmm... Should I have used the edge of the piston? That might make up the difference.


EDIT:
Nevermind. Used rim, edge of piston. # 1 piston came out to .026" doing it that way (0.268" measured on idicator). I reckon that's how you do it.
LOL. GM flat top pistons

 

Man, you had me all ready to ask where you were measuring from. Many dished pistons have the tapered perimeters, which would result in some pretty deep indicator point penetrations. I was thinking "Almost .300"? What kind of rods are in that thing?"

Thanks for the update. Were you using a really small point on the indicator, like a BesTest?