Thinner head gasket on 1986 M30b34 to up compression?

[FredDeuel]

I have to pull my head and do some valve work because I'm burning a little oil (I think the seals or guides on cylinder 5 are going) and in the process will need a new head gasket. while I am at it I thought about getting a thinner head gasket to bring the head closer to the pistons, upping compression; I want 9:1 so I can still run regular gas. I had asked on Bimmerforums and was told that bare minimum I'd need an adjustable cam gear and that to hit 9:1 I'd need my head shaved; and after all of that it still might run like crap. So I thought I'd ask here since you guys are more my style and speed of DIY.

[Good & Tight]

I have to pull my head and do some valve work because I'm burning a little oil (I think the seals or guides on cylinder 5 are going) and in the process will need a new head gasket. while I am at it I thought about getting a thinner head gasket to bring the head closer to the pistons, upping compression; I want 9:1 so I can still run regular gas. I had asked on Bimmerforums and was told that bare minimum I'd need an adjustable cam gear and that to hit 9:1 I'd need my head shaved; and after all of that it still might run like crap. So I thought I'd ask here since you guys are more my style and speed of DIY.

You could always get a Cometic MLS and pull a few layers out. Not sure how much compression you would gain by removing .020 worth of gasket. Check piston to head clearance for sure.
It would make sense to switch the cam and ECU to the B35 and run a chip to actually realize any gains from the higher compression.

[FredDeuel]

I know if I run a 0.030" gasket it would be around 8.5:1 comp. I was under the impression that the B35 and B34 cams were the same? The ECU I have is the 38 (I think) pin two row connector, aren't the B35 computers a three row 50-something pin?

You will have to forgive my ignorance, I am just starting to learn how to modify these engine beyond the very basic.