Just wondering if anyone has combined porting with the thicker base gasket and cut head. I was always under the impression that the thick base gasket was a less expensive alternative to porting but can't say I have ever really heard anyone discuss porting in conjuction with using a thicker base gasket and cut head. This would be on a set of cylinders that were mildly ported where the exhaust port hasn't been raised already by the removal of material in the cylinder (just widened a bit).

Is there somewhere else I should pose this question to get some response?
Thanks in advance.

Usually, you either port or put a thicker gasket in. With typical porting job, the exhaust port is raised a different measurement from the transfers (i.e. maybe rais the transfers 1 mm, and the exhaust 2 mm).

If you add a base gasket, you decrease your compression. In order to get your compression back up, then you either have to shave the head or cut the top of the cylinder. If you only want to raise the ports the thickness of the gasket, why not just get out the dremel? :-)