LA360 compression
Problem is, I have the car sitting at a full service shop and it has been for 3 weeks. They are waiting on the engine to be finished to install as they are pulling the 318 and also changing the rear diff. Lots going on and at this point I just need this 360 ready.
IMHO, he does not want to finish the engine as is. Your car is at a full service shop, so they should be qualified to:
1: measure the deck height and show you the exact value.
2: they can install the intake manifold and accessories and get the engine installed.
3: I would take your short block and heads to them to finish.
IF the deck height is 0.100"+, I would be inclined to veify the stroke, piston CD and rod length. Stroke is easy once you install a degree wheel and use a piston stop to find true TDC. Rotate to BDC and measure from deck surface to the piston crown directly over the wrist pin. Then rotate to TDC and measure in the same place. The difference is the stroke.
Pull one rod and piston assembly out and measure the pin bore diameter in the piston and divide by 2. Measure from the top of the pin bore to the top of the piston crown. Add the 1/2 pin bore to get the piston CD. Now you can compare that to what the KB spec is for the piston.
Slant six run with an obscene piston below the deck surface which is definately not optimal.
The Stove Bolt Chevs were the same. You can mill 0.070"" off the deck to achieve zero deck and then 0.090" off the head to increase the CR and quench.