I am in the process of rebuilding the 292 in my 55 TBird.  The engine is at the machine shop and I am waiting for their evaluation.  This engine is an early sixties 292 block bored .040 over.   My heads are bone stock 1957 "G" Heads and rockers. My intake manifold is a 1957 iron 4V Holley pattern stock intake.  I was running blue Flexpro head gaskets in this motor.

From what I can tell, my compression ratio is about 9 to 1 with this combination.   I know compression is power.  I do not have a problem using high test gas in my TBird.  The car is not a racer.  I want torque and good street performance.   I'm thinking about how to increase the compression ratio to 10/1.  I believe this would increase power significantly.  I also want to upgrade the camshaft.  I don't want a radical cam, but a powerful sound would be nice.  I hate to cut the "G" heads and intake because they came out of a 1957 Ford with 40,000 miles and are perfect.  I don't mind buying custom pistons.  Should I try to increase the CR?  Will I feel the difference?  If so, what is the best way to wake up this old engine?