aluminum head compression ratio

[mentally_challenger]

Has anyone ran 11.5 conpression on premuim pump gas with aluminum head? i understand you can boost a CR with alu. but it still seems kinda high. A local machine shop foreman told me this is his rule for aluminum, he also said it it will cost $350 for "stage 1" port job on my edelbrock. is that the standard rate?

[Chryco Psycho]

I would say it is too high depending on th cam used  I have run 11;1 with alum heads & pump gas with just slight pinging
 porting is like a finger print everone is different , I port a lot of heads & I have no idea what a stage 1 port job is , to me there is a right way to do it , you can make the ports a lot larger which couldbe a stage 2 I guess 

[Follicly Challenged]

Ask your "FOREMAN" guy if the Stage 1 job is "cleaning & straightening all the way through the port", or just a "pocket port & gasket match".
Probably the "latter", if he's dis-assembling, porting, cleaning afterward, checking guide clearance, and re-assembling checking installed heights, seat contact, and spring pressures. Couple of hours involved there already, $350 is cheap.