318/XE262/#302 heads and what stall converter/rear end

Ouch :(

To answer your question about similar setups, I think I've responded to you before but mine is similar with the xe268 cam.

318, .030 over, stock pistons, 920 heads (stock should be slightly more comp that 302s but not much, mine are cut .015), pretty much the same head work, stock converter rebuilt and stall raised to max, they said 2000-2400 rpm I think. Stock rear is a 7-1/4 SG with 3.21 gears.

Runs pretty good since I did the cam and heads...I almost wish I'd gone a step bigger on the cam, I think it would be good especially once I swap for 3.55 gears (changing to an 8-1/4 axle).

I think anything less than 3.21 gear would be doggy with a cam in this range, and given that we should only be getting around 8.5:1 compression.