67 Dart 270...Project Old School

If I were you since you are so deep into it. I would pull the engine and replace the pistons with some KB 107's to up your compression to 10:1 or so and do a backyard shade tree rebuild. New bearings, hone it etc. Face it the engine is old and your gunna be pulling it in the next few months anyway so may as well do it now is my thought.... I did what you are doing on another engine I had in my swinger and my bottom end took a **** on me in the first 2 weeks..... out came the engine.