2 base gaskets???

[Hamish]

Last week I pulled my engine down for gearbox repais, and found that the previous owner had installed 2 base gaskets. The only reason for doing this that I can think of is that the head/barrel was decked and they needed extra piston/valve or piston/head clearance. I can't imagine why anyone would want less compression, unless they wanted to run low octane fuel. Knowing my luck if I refit 1 base gasket it'll end in disaster, so I'll do a piston/valve clearence checks first. If anyone has any ideas on why you would install 2 base gaskets please let me know ?

thanks

Hamish