318/360 hybrid

You dont HAVE to cut the heads, but you will loose a lot of the factory 7.8:1 (real) ratio. The upside, you can run 86 octane! Personally, I'd look for a set of 86-91 318 heads..The casting # ends in 302. They are a pre-Magnum high swirl head, that has a closed (small) chamber design..They'll run great on your 82. If you can, have the intake port enlarged to match the 340/360 port size, and you can run any intake, and it will rip. Another trick, use the thin MP head gaskets, and you should be able to get the compression up close to 9:1.