Is it OK to take .050 off the cylinder head?

Is it mechanically possible without damaging the head or making problems? Yes. Is it the right idea? Maybe, could be, probably not. Just shaving this much or that much metal off the head is the wrong way to do it. You really need to calculate your combustion chamber volume accurately, factoring in the piston deck height and cylinder head gasket compressed thickness, and figure out your actual compression ratio, and then you can make a smart, informed decision as to how much to shave off the head and/or block.

nail on the head!

compression is low balled on the 225 . Actual compression is high 7 or low 8.5 ....old time racers shaved theirs .090 to get it about 9.5 which is as high as one needs to go on an otherwise stock set up ....If it was me id go ahead and pull it and put new bearings ,oil pump ,timing set and a cam for higher torque ....dont forget new manifold bolts!:mrgreen:

you have to know how far the piston is in the hole because from the factory they could have been from .140 to .210 is alot of difference in compression...