318 engine combination

I started the post and came back to it and found some questions answered

you can't mill open chambered heads to get quench

he will have positive deck

69dart- is your 318 still together?

If you pull the heads measure the deck clearance at all four corners before your remove the pistons

your machinist will need to know this before you square up the block or if you don't

That piston has positive deck so squaring up the block determines how far out of the block the pistons come- not a problem but you may have to juggle head gaskets - especially with closed chamber heads like the Edelbrocks

If piston is out 10 and you have a .040 gasket – well depends on if any of the head surface overhangs the bore

also check your rods for being angle cut on the caps

agree flow trumps compression (more fill needs less squeeze)

8.5-9:1 true compression for iron heads (unless big big cam, late intake close to bleed off compression)

agree on ir3333 comp cam suggestion but put that off (and I do not use comp cams much)

is the summit carb avs or afb both good avs better
you do not want large tube headers