Stock 360 from a 1984 Dodge Pickup

Been thinking it over and since I only have a few hours a week to get to the car, I'm leaning toward pulling off the heads and taking a look.
If I decide to do the cam, what should be done to the heads while they are off other than plugging the smog pump ports?
Im still hell bent on using the iron intake that's on that motor now too, just with a new carb.
What's better to do first the top of the motor then flip it to do the pickup and pan? Or do the bottom first?