Very astute and observant, RD.[8D] Yes. You CAN change the compression that way. The other way to change the compression is to forget to tighten the carrier/piston threads, [maybe drip on some Loktite to keep things where they belong]. This is a nifty arrangement, but heavier than a swaged wrist pin. Credit for this idea probably goes to my neighbor down the road, Dirty Dan Rutherford [the original designer of the VA]. You wanna talk about outside of the box, talk to Dan
?