Right now I'm trying to get my compression/quench height about right. My potential set up would be a piston 0.045 in the hole and a 0.015 thick headgasket. That would put my quench at 0.060 but i've heard you want it at 0.040? Would that be okay or should I go lower?

 

That's so much, it's basically non-existent.

The effect also becomes less significant as compression decreases; and is altogether non-existent if the pistons hav a dish.

Probably not worth worrying about in your situation.

I'd also recommend against the shim gasket... a motor with slightly lower compression because of a thick gasket that seals, will make more power than one with shlightly higher compression but gaskets that leak, as those virtually always do, especially between the 2 center cylinders.