So much for that theory! I should have checked my parts book first. # 9792955 - for use when an increase in comp ratio is desired - .033 - .028" thick. That certainly seems to point to thick gaskets as standard and like Vikki has documented. Apparently the Royal Bobcat head gaskets took this one step further and may be what I was thinking were stock.

I know that the OHC engines all had steel shim head gaskets so I made the assumption that the V-8s received the same type of gaskets. Fel-Pro usually is .039" compressed.

TRW L2323F had a CD of 1.735 and a bore of 4.125 in standard with a .980 pin and a dish of 14.5 cc. That might work for someone out there. Or get a set of 455 (4.151 bore or +.030" for a 400) pistons and use custom rods that are 6.863 long.

The extra room around the bore doesn't amount to much. Using a bore size of 4.150 for the stock gasket and a thickness of .042, the volume is 9.1 cc. Using a bore of 4.210 and a thickness of .039 for the Fel-Pro gasket, the volume is 9.2 cc. The important number is the piston to head clearance.