I hear all this talk of skimming heads to 9.5-1 and increasing bhp but it is a flawed concept for a Landrover engine. I have followed this debate online and read online posts made by world acclaimed experts including, David Turner of Turner Engineering. Landrovers need low level torque. When you skim a head you up the compression, Which will increase the bhp at high revs which are not good news for an old plodding engine which rarely gets beyond 3500 rpm, What it also does is reduces the low rev off road valuable torque Landrovers need more than unobtainable high revving bhp. They are not racing cars. Keep it at 8-1 especially if your starting with a 7=1 head as the metal on them is very thin and skimmed it can cause it to crack. 8-1 heads have a raised rectangle of cast under a center head bolt with a funny figure 8 cast that looks more like 2 zero's pushed together.
Low compression heads are also less likely to blow a head gasket.So are more reliable.
Also they will run on very poor, low octane petrol as found in Africa and Australia in the 50's and 60's that's why series 1's have 6.8-1 and series 2's 7-1 compression heads.
Enjoy driving your slow Landrover and take time to enjoy a slower safer pace of transport.
If this is alien to you and you want to drive fast you bought the wrong vehicle.Sell it and buy a Subaru. The insurance will be more expensive though as driving fast is never a safe option. Phil Price
