I did use a real gasket. And because milling the heads to get compression is the wrong way to do it. You either change pistons or get heads with smaller chambers, neither of which I can afford.
A cut on the heads to get from 7.7:1 to 9.5:1 would be well over .100". Then I have to cut the intake. Then I have a top end that has to all stay together, or it's useless. That's just not the right way to do things. Plus, a cut that big will have to be done in stages, so that means it's expensive. I've done it before. The results were good, but it's the incorrect way to go about it. Besides, this engine is a very good match of parts. I am positive it will make 1 LB FT per cubic inch, because everything is matched up so well and in an early A body, that will be an exciting ride, compression be damned. People get too caught up with compression. It is one way to make power, but not the only way. People have been making low compression engines haul *** for decades. It's nothing new. I think it's a fun challenge. And the thing about it, I don't have to ride around looking for the highest octane because it'll run on anything. It's almost as if people are scared of low compression. Maybe they don't want to do the work involved to make one powerful. It can be done and it's not "that hard". Sure higher compression will do it easier, but at what cost? And "where" do you stop? It's like "with this piston I can get 9.75.....but this one I can get 11:1......it's a slippery slope. And yeah, all the work can be done to make it run on pump gas with high compression......but you ain't gonna be runnin on 87. I will. I'm buildin this car to be a cruiser and to have fun with. So far, I've had a ball. If I start screwin around trying to run on the ragged edge, that's gonna change and I'm not gonna let that happen. Besides, it's my car and no one else's. I'm doin it my way.
