440 power gains/ aluminum head advantages?

got a degree kit yesterday and it's on the way and i tore most of the front end of the engine off so soon i'll degree it and see what's up. also gonna pull the intake as after 3rd oil change (500 miles ish) im still getting a little silver shimmer in my oil. no chunks but i want to cover all my bases.
The Isky feeler gauge method will give you a good idea if the cam is close or not.
I used that method many times before I learned to degree. Fact is my dad taught me that method years ago when doing a cam swap.