Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Top of the line "towing cam"?

[HHhuntitall]

Well, no offense, but the amount of compression loss with the thicker head gasket is somewhat non-existant. Boring +.020 will MORE than compensate for any compression loss... the use of the thicker gasket is for valve clearance, as remember, you are cutting off the block AND head to get a new, flat bonding surface, plus adding more valve lift and duration. Adding valve lift allows more air for a longer period, but you want the clearance. It's just a safe practice I follow, so there's no valve contact. Fly cutting the pistons is much more expensive than a thicker headgasket you are already paying for. Just my opinion. If you are using a head and block that have never been decked, you probably won't have much of a problem, but checking is always a good idea before turning the engine over and finding out the hard (hitting) way.

 

[Destroked 450]

I understand a thicker head gsk if you deck the block but most go with a .020 over gsk, your the first I've heard of using a .050 over gsk.
I don't fly cut the piston I use a piston notching tool I got from Isky years ago, I just got a smaller cutter for 5.9 size valves.
Mine's still stock bore and the block didn't need decked.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Well, and it may be too much. I was just suggesting a thicker gasket for clearance issues. Obviously it's your motor, so it's your call. I don't cut my pistons for an engine I'll be towing with, as I've seen cracks develop along the radius of the cuts in the top of the piston when towing heavy and pouring a lot of fuel to it. With stock pistons, that is. And it doesn't happen overnight. It's also so simple to just drop a gasket over the alignment dowels.... Again, it was only meant as a suggestion.

 

[Destroked 450]

HHhuntitail I did some checking and it appears the .050 gasket you mentioned was .050mm and I mistook it for .050in.
.050mm is .020in, my bad.