EQ Heads and stock rocker arms?

AJ/FormS said
Well everything, IMO, is gonna hinge on your compression ratio.

AJ/FormS,

First off thanks for taking the time to reply, some good info there.

About CR (static), like I said I won't be messing with pistons so they are stock Magnum "soap dishes." Stated compression according to mopar 9.1, but poking around on the net it seems most people are seeing around 8.75 or even lower down to 8.2 or something.

So I am thinking the only way I could boost the compression cheaply is through a thinner head gasket but thinking that could come back to bite me in the *** later in terms of durability. Was considering the Mr Gasket .028. Magnum swap has this to say:

MagnumSwap.com said
They’re about half the thickness of a stock gasket. Cleanup is a snap as well. They seal well and increase compression significantly over stock. With a true 58cc casting such as the EQ Magnum or Edelbrock Performer RPM heads you’ll be in the vicinity of 9.5:1 compression with the stock short block.

So I guess I have that going for me lol.

For Elevation, I live and drive mostly around the flat lands in LA with an occasional drive up the canyon roads... so day to day like 300ft above sea level. Max elevation might be 3k-4k feet or so up in the canyons? Driving further up would be cool but i won't do it much.

I also have an innovate wide band o2 that I have been sitting on for about 5 years I wouldn't mind hooking up to help tuning. Im not too familiar with carb tuning but would enjoy learning.

I will always run at minimum 91 pee water gas we have here in CA.

At any rate, I am hoping the 5.9 mag compression will be a few points more than my current 72 318 with 302 heads. If i can get it to 9 at least with the head gasket I will be happy .