If the pistons come in above the deck,then
you are on the way to having a performance 273, if
or with, careful parts selection from this point on.[/QUOTE
Thank you. From the beginning, the advice I recieved from the companies including Falcon Performance, Packard/Katner, Racer Brown Cams, and others was to do exactly that, to build a cloned OEM Commando 273 engine. I guess that was my objective by depending on these companies, my mechanic, and the machine shop which I am using which is well respected in my area. I got a bit concerned about the 0.015 block decking and, therefore, any clearance issues. However, based upon some of the answers I recieved the decking loss can be made up with the choice of the various head gasket thickness available. Although, there "could" be some intake fitment issues, but unlikely is what I have found. I am a paint and body guy with limited experience behind the wrench, so I thank you and all our members for the advice given. Old Dart 66