383 power upgrade help

440 source heads are chink heads.
Edelbrock are made in America.

Once the cylinder head and head gasket are off, you need a magnetic bridge and dial indicator. Zero out the gauge like pictured below with the gauge set low in the bridge for full plunger extension ability. The. Slide it over the the center of the piston and watch the need on the gauge rotate around and measure.

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A straight edge and good feeler gauges will work. Get the piston to TDC. You just need a very close estimate of where that piston is at TDC. Then you can figure out the c/r with what head gaskets and heads. Another option for heads is Marsh Performance. They will build your heads to what you need as far springs ect. Buying heads through a shop is better than bolting on without being checked out. PRH for your cam and he knows something about 383s.