As mentioned, biggest issue is the stock compression. Do the math. I did, and trying to get it at 7.5 on a bone stock engine is wishfull. It was really more like 7 to 1. Yup, the KB pistons alone and nothing else get you near the 9 to 1, with some deck milling its no problem.

I had two stock blocks and the piston to deck clearance was .117" in one and .119" in the other. Toss that in with an actual cc'd head and its really doomsday for any real performance. Unless you build it with other specific parts (converter/gears/cam) that all match to acheive some level of performance.

Of course you could do what I did and put a hair dryer on it. Never made it to the track but it was one heck of a kick in the pants for a bonestock engine.