340 build

Squaring the deck is always a good idea... but, think about this. Your tallest piston is .020 out of the hole, and your lowest was .....012? right? So that means that you will have all of your pistons popping up .020 now right? (that's not 100% correct because you may have some rods that were recondition that cause the rod to be 1 or 2 Thou shorter than the rest)
In reality, you will have piston the set above the deck from .019-.022 above the deck. you could have the rod "blue printed" (reconditioned to have all the rods the same length) but that is a preciseness that cost money.(Maybe you will have to ask the machine shop)
If i was going down that rod i would just buy a good Q aftermarket rod. they are much lighter AND stronger and would have to be decided before any balancing is done.
When i get back, i just might send your thread off track a little. but you want to learn and this may be a learned subject for us both.