7A-FE Compression Ratio, Looking at changing the CR of my 7afe when I rebuild. Options

[PaukST]

Hey all, I'm trying to decide what to do with my 7AFE (have to take it apart due to a rod knock anyway). I've kicked around a few ideas (or maybe a lot ), and I'm currently researching what an increase in compression ratio might do. Does anyone have any info on this? I'm unsure of the potential difference in performance, and I can't seem to find any hard data on what pistons (4age, smallport 4age, 4agze) result in what CR. I've been trying to make sense of these tools and formulas - http://www.csgnetwork.com/compcalc.html http://s-86.com/s-cr.html and http://s-86.com/s-cr-chart.html - but I'm having a hard time digging out the relevant numbers. Doing the math myself or using the calculator I come up with significantly different numbers than their little handy chart, so I don't know what to think. Is this a futile exercise? Will I even be able to notice a performance difference over the stock 9.5:1 without having to use higher octane?

[PaukST]

the problem is you have a 7A-FE, that was the economy engine and there is really no aftermarket support for it.

QFT. Honestly, both engines I've had in this car have been pretty tired... One with a rod knock, and its junkyard motor stand-in. I'd probably notice a good improvement with just a good stock rebuild and cleaning. I think I'm going to port and polish the head, and possibly get a header at some point... added to the short ram air intake I already have, it'll probably be an outstanding daily driver.

...And all the time I don't spend on the engine I can put toward freshening up everything else!