YES, you will be able to run 87 octane, even at 10.6:1 compression. Those big quench areas in the heads help the fuel/air burn way faster. It'll give you even more insurance if you round out (not just smooth) all the edges in the combustion chambers and clean up the port bowls. dgc333 built a Magnum 360 for his 'Cuda, he runs low-octane gas just fine and has his mechanical advance around 32-34*.