zero deck pistons?

A dial indicator is the best way to both measure your deck and to find true tdc. you cannot go off the balancer timing marks. Just 2 degrees can throw off you deck height measurement. If you don't have a dial indicator use a straight edge and feeler guage at the highest point of your piston. To find true tdc with a feeler gauge takes some patience. You have to rotate crank very slowly till you find the thinnest guage that will fit. Once you find tdc measure at the dome, measure at ring lands top and bottom there may be a difference between top and bottom ring lands. This is due to piston rock. Add the 2 measurements together and divide by 2. This is your true deck height