[mgarblik]

Before you get too far into this engine and picking parts to lower compression/dampen detonation: If your pic in post 39 actually shows the piston at TDC, unless an optical illusion, the piston looks way down in the cylinder. Like .040-.060 down. You need to get an accurate measurement so you can calculate your compression ratio accurately. Not sure why they would be that low unless they had to cut the heck out of the rods to recondition them or the block is extremely tall for some reason.