Marine 273 build

Correct... Budget is tight on this one. If it weren't, Id be looking at bottom end work and more cubes (318 or 340). I do think trying to extract some more power from the small engine without breaking the bank will be a fun project though.

Another Chrysler guy I know suggested magnums a while back but I want to keep this looking original- factory valve covers included. So, I'd prefer to try and work with some earlier small chamber heads (302 or otherwise).

I have not so much as touched my engine yet, heads are still on. No idea how far down in the hole the pistons are. The only way I can get the compression ratio calculator close to the advertised CR numbers is to plug in a below deck height of .010-.0125. Much more than that and it's down in the 7's. No one has told me whether my other assumptions are wrong, or if some 273's really did come from the factory with a sub-8 CR. Either way I guess it didn't really matter, as changing the pistons or block are not on the table. With the head change I'm contemplating I stand to gain about a point over whatever I have now, so that will have to be good enough!