Lets discuss another engine build
Im running a LA block, Magnum heads.
I was basing all my ratio numbers off of a .040 x 4.080 head gasket and 64cc head chamber. I wasnt sure where to start so I picked that gasket which I believe was a Felpro.
I am ok with re-balancing the rotating assembly. Im pretty much looking at it like a brand new engine build so what ever I have to do to make it right.
OK, yes that is the Felpro 1008 head gasket.... .039" thick. The bore hole size is more like 4.12" or 4.18" but it has little effect on the CR. If you want the hole size to be very close to the bore size, then I only know of Cometic to do that.....at $200 per pair versus $80 per pair of the Felpro 1008's. But .028" head gaskets will reduce the decking cut and just put the pistons a bit down in the hole.
So the LA block will need more decking than the Magnum block; the KB362's will need less decking than the HC116P's. The intake will need milling too.
With the LA block and Magnum heads, you are planning on the AMC lifters and pushrods with the oil feed holes, correct?
I personally think the quench gap is worth the effort. .035" is the recommended minimum (depends on how it is checked) and IMHO, .040" to .045" is still good.
If you are re-balancing, and want to upgrade rods, then the SCAT I-beam's are worth looking into IMO. The great thing is that they are already weight matched at both the big end and pin end, as well as overall, and the weights are marked right on the box, so they are ready to go for balancing without any rod work, which saves $$. And the KB's we recently got were all within +/- 1 gram as were the pins, so along with the SCAT rods, you have piston/pin/rod assemblies that don't need any further balance machining. We just worked up our new bobweight (which anyone who can weigh a few parts to 1 gram accuracy or less, and can manage arithmetic, can do), and handed that and the crank to the machinist for a $95 balance job of just the crank. (For a 360, add in the flexplate and the damper.)
The Scat rods save a bunch more weight over the stock rods, like about 155-160 grams per rod, so your rod/piston/pin weight will be 275-280 grams lighter than stock (with the KB's), which gets more weight and stress off the crank, and helps revving (a bit).
But the Scat rods is just another option..... I am not trying to push you into it.