More compression worth the cost?

I don't think so with 8.5:1. I could be wrong. Let me ask you this....why not take full advantage of the heads and get close to or over 11:1? THEN you would be makin that kinda power...probably more.

i want to keep it a street/strip pump gas engine. this engine is most likely a stepping stone to get the car dialed in and then will probably end up building a roller cam 470 stroker with the heads and intake i have already.