bad squish

[Mhskog]

rebuilding a 720 in a 97 gti, newbie I didn't squish test and I used grey ultra seal on the base gasket, I was about 2.1MM on the squish test. So order a 4 hole gasket and pull the engine out .. put the 4 hole in dry and reassembled the motor I'm now at 2.4MM, double-checked torque on head bolts and did them to 20Ft Lbs. Motor has new crank new seals , new pistons and rings. How can I be screwing this up?

anyone ?

 

[Mhskog]

mic the base gasket mic at .46MM so more like a .5 than a .4 but still wouldn't account for my issue.

 

[mikidymac]

None of the gaskets should get RTV or anything on the engine for that matter.
To do the squish properly you need to install the cylinders with no gasket then measure the squish then use the book spec to determine the correct gasket needed to get you to the correct spec.