Getting the most out of a low comp 440

We have done dozens of late model low compression 440 engines that have the pistons .150" down the hole or more for hot street or low dollar bracket motors. The cheapest and absolute best way to cure the problem like we always do in this application is to deck the block a .100" and I have actually decked a few of mine .125". You get several gains by going this, but you have to understand a few things that go along with this route. First it will raise the compression a bunch. You will need to buy some ARP head bolt washers to put under the stock head bolts to make up the loss in block height or your bolts will most likely bottom out before you reach head bolt torque. You'll need new push rods as well. Here's the part that loses most people. When you lower the deck this causes the intake to sit up higher on the head intake surface, so you have to slot the intake bolt holes on the inside just a touch. Now the part that is the sweet cherry on top. Since the intake ports are now sitting higher on the head than before you can lightly (in just a few spots) use yellow weather stripping adhesive to the intake side of the gasket and bolt the intake to the heads. Next day unbolt it and use a scribe to trace out the gasket outline on the intake. Later you will blend the roof of the intake and the sides but leave the floor of the intake alone. After this is completed go back and use more of weather stripping adhesive to the head side of the gasket than you did on the intake side and bolt it all back together and let it sit until the next day. Now carefully remove the intake and let the gasket pull away from the intake while stays stuck to the heads. This provides you with the perfect porting template to high port the intake runners on the heads. Just remember to not touch the floors. Air flows along the top of the ports not the bottom as much. Raising the intake port and making sure the intake and heads fit together allows smooth airflow and provides gains in overall flow with minimal effort. Now some will think this is a crazy approach and some will understand what I am saying and understand the logic behind it. If you follow these words you can take an engine that runs like a turd and turn it into something that runs really well. for very little. No need to bore a block or buy pistons for a just a little effort, set of rings and a few hundred dollars you can create something you'll very much enjoy for your efforts.

Tom