Any tips for more power from a 295?

[a327vette]

I am going to stick a set of rings in my 92 marathon, and was wondering if there was any tricks while it is apart to get a little more power out of it on the cheap. I am not going to bore it unless the cylinder walls are scratched too deep, so that is out. I have seen the cams available, but not wanting to drop almost $200 on that.
Has anyone tried shaving the head to bump compression a little?
Anyone had any luck with porting the head?
Does the muffler mod actually help anything?
Thanks

[mikesmotortoys]

Nothing cheap - 9 hp is 9 hp...

[scottyb]

I imagine you can shave the head.... Just check your existing valve clearance to piston and shave away Worked good on the old flathead 8.5hp

[WILD-BILL]

I'ld be concerned about getting the proper tension on the timing chain after the head is shaved.

[ruredy]

My first thoughts about hoppin up a 295 are why....(even with spending money on it)..... but then again, i've been thinking about hot rodding my chain saw so I can cut trees down faster. now if I can figure out how to increase gravity so they'll fall faster i'll be set up.
I doubt shaving the head is going to produce any significant gains. boring it out and sticking the max size piston will show an improvement but the cost is kinda high on that. Hell, just add one of those NOS setups for ATVs I see on ebay all the time. That should push it up to 14hp or so with just a push of the button and after it blows you can find a bigger engine to put in there.

[scottyb]

Everybody is down on the shaved head? Okay, I can think of other ways to increase the compression and gravity, well, that's all relative too




Welcome back JON, good to see you posting again!