flat top pistons with no valve relief will be down in the cylinder .100. will be hard to cut the block to zero. also, there would be an issue of valve to piston clearence. that is were the valve reliefs come in. with the piston closer to zero deck, the reliefs give the clearence for the valves. with no reliefs flat top pistons, closed chambered cylinder heads, and thin gasket, you will have to run a very small lift cam. i would also buy aftermarket I beam rods instead of working a factory set. factory rods are stouter than most prople give them credit for. the time it takes to do a set of factory rods is not cost effective. unless you are tring to save money or just hard headed like me. kenny