Thinner base gasket will only make a marginal difference as you will only change the port timing by a small amount. Increasing the CR will help the bottom end to a point but without knowing were the squish and and ratio are now I can't comment but can say that the octane of the fuel will not change the power in a low compression engine, octane is only the resistance to knock and has nothing to do with the calorific value of the fuel.
It is possible to machine the bottom of the barrel to reduce the port timing but a thicker head gasket or re-machined head is needed to get squish and CR back to were it should be.
Pity you can't lengthen the pipe as it would make the biggest difference, sure you can't add a bigger radius bend and push it sideways and then re-join.