What is the maximum meat you can take off a regular height(not a tall deck) 427. I've got 781's to put on it and would like to keep CR around 10:1. Thanks, Jason Hopson

You would not want to take off so much that the pistons stick out the top of the block, and you can for sure take off that much and more without weakening it.

Do some studying on gaskets, and the height of your proposed rotating assembly. You want .040" quench, which will be your deck ht plus your gasket thickness. If you can use a thinner gasket and not deck so much that will save some for next time.

Our motors generally have the pistons "down-in-the-hole" right at .025" or so stock, so I would use that as a starting point! BUT measure to know for sure before planing anything.

GM ran the .020" steel shim headsgaskets on both SB's and BB's through the years so you are looking at a quench number of .045" or thereabouts!

pdq67