I really need some advice here

Thanks for the advice. I will go with the 360 and clean up those 308 heads. Roller rockers, @ 1:6 and probably some pistons that will leave .005 to .008 below deck.

BTW the advice was very timely. Just blew the motor in it up. It has a very strong 318 in it now. Went to pass an old man from second gear at 3k and the thing didn't shift into third as it usually does, when I looked at the tach it was on its way back down to 6k. No smoke or oil but the distributor shaft will turn about 180*

Looks like things are looking up for me, now there is no excuse and I get to work on it at all hours of the night.