225 rebuild advice
Good for your little girl!!
The Engine Builder kits have good parts: Silvolite pistons and Hasting rings.
A new timing chain is a must and degree the cam. A few degrees cam advance will help.
As above, shave the head by about .050" or .060"; no problems doing that with anything else. Heads get shaved a bunch more than that at times. Get as thin a head gasket as you can. Finding an original steel shim gasket is worth it. A good multi-angle valve job will help a bit. Valve guides often need attention. Put in exhaust valve seats if you decide to put in a stronger valve spring. (I kept the stock type springs but just put in new ones.)
Larger exhaust for sure: 2-1/4". Headers optional.
MILD cam, especially for the older /6 engines, which had lower lift cams than later. Go to
www.slantsix.org for that. I used a mild torque cam from Doug Dutra (Doctor Dodge over there).
Upgrade ignition to Trailbeast's HEI kit or similar. Make sure your distributor bushings are not worn out.
Carb can be 2 or 1 bbl; the 2 bbl does add some for sure. The Super Six conversions may not be super cheap anymore; shop around.
Oil pump gears are weak; I had Doug Dutra blueprint one for me. Good peace of mind, IMO.
Have radiator rodded out; too many older cruddy cooling systems in /6's.
If the car has not run in years, it very definitely need the fuel tank dropped and cleaned thoroughly, and fuel line cleaned out.