318 complete combo suggestions...

Danilo said

It has never been rebuilt - so stock pistons
I could run a compression test, but I plan to completely rebuild it so changing the pistons won't be an issue.
I am wanting to keep it both numbers matching and stock looking, but don't mind changing the heads and upgrading ignition or other items if it makes good sense.

Click to expand...

The warning about the Pistons is this:
You have the early 318 pistons, which are decently high compression. There are NO stock replacement type pistons for those anymore. The only stock type pistons sold are later low compression smog era pistons. Put those in and you will drop your low RPM torque and HP, and put a cam in and the low RPM gets lower.
That low RPM torque is important for a cruiser car.
So replace the pistons with some decently high compression, non-stock ones. That will require a re-balance of the crank, rods, and pistons as you can't find stock weight pistons anymore except the low compression, smog era ones.