The lowered cranking pressures are very likely due to the longer duration camshaft. The VX cam closes the intake valve about 13 deg. of crankshaft rotation later than the std "M" cam...at that point the piston is further along on its way back up the bore so has less air volume to compress and build the pressure you see on your gauge.

This is one of the reasons longer duration camshafts develop less low-end torque.

Been too long to remember accurately, but a couple of years ago at about 145k mi, the 83 had pressures ranging from 195 to 180. M camshaft and C.R. of 10.25:1
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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)