low comp 383

[Bruce H Canam]

452 ported and polished heads, long tube headers, high vol oil pump, torker intake, various tq carbs. Pistons well below deck height. Question is: replace pistons,8 pistons and $120 per hole, or remove meat from top of block? Thanks Guys.

 

[68-500]

Pistons.

 

[R413]

Replace pistons is the better way to go.

Intake manifold still fits, overbore cylinders and have great ring seal. Maybe spend some money on some quality lighter pistons.

Must take it all down to nothing to machine the block deck surface.

 

[496 polara]

You can only deck the block so much. Have it decked to square and new pistons. Smaller chamber heads a bandaid for the short term.

 

[ruffcut]

Replace pistons with ones that give you the CR you want and still use the same cylinder heads. Easy fix.

 

[MiradaMegaCab]

Neither, simply add boost.

 

[DanielSlocum]

How about aluminum 75cc chamber heads instead of your current 88-90 cc chambers? How much more compression do you need?
How much cam duration do you have? Have you done a compression test to see what your numbers are now?
A duel-plane intake should also increase your low to midrange torque as does a compression increase.
More duration and overlap hurts cranking compression numbers and low to midrange torque.
Just saying. Good luck.

 

[Geoff 2]

Torker intake is not doing you any favours. An Edel Performer or factory intake would liven up the bottom end, might be enough even with low comp ratio, to satisfy you.

 

[Doorkicker]

Gut reaction - like the others - new pistons with good/low deck clearance. However, it REALLY depends on how far down they are now. Because, like @DanielSlocum said, you may just put smaller cc heads on it. If the pistons are in the hole over 0.100... I would put new pistons in because you're not going to make that up with heads. Also, heads will be more $$$ but far easier than installing new pistons. Anyway, how far are the current ones down in the hole?

Lastly, I would not recommend cutting the block down... that opens up all kinds of things that will need to be delt with later.