Low Compression, Can I do it.

[Dennis Kelley]

Vortec Iron heads, pocket ported, 650 VS, dual plane intake, Crane power max or Comp cam 262, Have the machine shop mill the heads for compression around 9.0 to1. Say hello to one sweet running and cheap sbc.

[Big-Foot]

Just a couple of thoughts for you here...

If you have a low static compression ratio and you want to increase your effective "Dynamic" compression ratio, you need to get more air into the cylinders to raise the cylinder pressure. Your cam specs are not out of line with an engine that could make reasonably good HP even with a lower static compression ratio. The easiest way to raise your dynamic compression ratio is to change from 1.5:1 to 1.6:1 intake rocker arms. This will also increase the intake duration slightly as it will get the valve open faster. This is presuming that you have enought piston to valve clearance.

Carb - unload that 850 Holley and work towards a 600-650 CFM vacuum secondary unit. Distributor - Low compression likes a fair amount of advance - limit your max mechanical advance to 38 degrees and initial should start in around 12-14. If you have a vacuum advance unit on your distributor - use it. Plug it into Manifold vacuum - not ported vacuum.

We build all manner of engines and combinations here. I have no idea where people get all their info from, but both GM and Ford have their strong suits - both are capable of very good fuel economy, both are capable of really good power. It seems that there are more choices, still, in performance equipment for the GM engines and that holds true as well for the new modular engines from both camps.