build it to last big block guys

All good stuff mentioned above, but for me the most important thing is to start off with a perfectly clean block inside and out. I have a collection of brushes I use to go through "every" oil passage at the same time flowing with WD-40. Wash and scotch brite pad the cylinders and all gasket surfaces. I'll easily use a couple gallons of the stuff from start to finish plus the oiley residue it leaves behind stops rust. Towards the end of the cleaning I'll put a catch tray under the engine and collect the WD40 and reuse it after I've strained it through cheeze cloth to catch any dirt but also brush brissles. To clean an engine block properly I do 3 times and takes about two 8 hr days. Everytime I think a passage is clean blow with air and spray in more WD and if I ever I have to leave the block for overnite or whatever, the whole things is sealed in plastic with a new sheet evertime (don't reuse the plastic). I guess I'm anal but that's the way I do it. Almost forgot, keep the GD doors closed and therefore wear a filtered mask and sealed googles like the painters use to keep the WD out of your lungs and eyes.