Scooterotica

If you were to replace a base gasket of 1.0mm and replace it with one of 0.2mm (compensating with a corresponding head gasket to retain the same squish) what would be the effect on the engine. Ie: all the ports have now been lowered by 0.8mm.

Would this make it more torquey at low revs, or need it to rev on more to deliver the power?

Hypothetically of course, not that I've just bought a copper base gasket for my Mugello or anything like that.....

It all depends what port imings you have with the original 1mm base gasket. Lowering the ports by 0.8mm does not give a linear change in port timings and, more importantly, a set of timings that match well at the original height would not always match if there were lowered or raise by the same amount.

To see whether this will be benificial to you the port timings need to measured accurately. As Richard says it may not work well but potentially could make the motor less revy. Mugellos have come with different port timings over their developement and if you have the later version the boost port opening is critical as well.
Lowering the exhaust port will also increase your corrected compression ratio as well which is something you need to be aware of.

Thanks for the replies chaps. Although I was only after a kind of generic answer, I realise that there's not a simplistic one (which would suit my simplistic brain!). For the record, this is a Mk2 Mugello 186 with a JL3 and PHBH 28mm.