id like to keep the cam i got. my goal now its to get more air in/out and have a higher compression ratio. im just aiming for 10-10.5, id like to still drive it on premium
Doing what I recommended is the cheapest, easiest method of "raising" the compression. That mammoth camshaft you have in it now is bleeding off tons of cylinder pressure. Cylinder pressure that 8.2:1 motor ain't got to begin with. It is probably more like an honest 7.6:1 like all the rest were. By installing the 340 camshaft, you will make the cylinder pressure skyrocket, essentially raising compression. I bet in a situation like yours, it would not be impossible to add as much as 30-50 HP with just a simple camshaft change. Because the camshaft you have is so exponentially mismatched to the rest of your engine, the difference would be astounding. Certainly cheaper than changing out the pistons......and would also actually make it worth the extra money to run premium. Because then you'd have the cylinder pressure to probably justify it.