There are manual racks as well. Work just fine, bit more effort, but might be an easier path to take?
As I said earlier, I have tried to find a manual to replace this power rack but I haven't been able to find one that mounts the same.
First let me compliment you on a nicely done thread...... If the heads make a 9.7 Comp ratio with a stock bore and stroke, the additional bore and stroke will increase the ratio substantially. Ad to that the domed pistons and I would expect (as you also suspect) that the ratio is just too high for most gases ....especially todays pump gas. I hate to see you give up the extra displacement, especially with a flathead towing a trailer. Have you considered just trying to find some non-domed replacement pistons ? I see you have some machinery in your shop, so probably have some experience modifying things. Are the piston tops thick enough that you might cut some/all of the dome off ? You might be able to tailor the ratio to exactly what you want.
If the power steering is too quick to suit you, you can shim/some pumps to lessen the pressure and make them more better. Here is some info on the Chevy pumps as an example.
This was a wild idea on modifying the steering while I had the engine out. Thinking more about it I realised that it wouldn't work anyway . Don't know what the heck I was thinking of ... so I went back and removed the post. .... Sometimes my brain just runs away and jumps off a cliff. ....
I received the wrong piston rings from Speedway. In all the years that I have been doing business with them, this has never happened before. I called them and they emailed me a return shipping label right away. So I'm waiting for the return to go thru whatever process that takes and for them to send me the correct rings.
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