Back after a long time/318 Guidance

The thing that jumps out at me is the compression. Did you actually measure/calculate it yourself? The reason I ask is that it's mentioned that TRW flat tops were used with J-heads. If you take a flat top and install it at zero deck height, assume a 0.041" head gasket with a 4.100 bore (since most are made for 340/360)...it takes a 62cc head to get to 10.47 to 1...which a J-head is not. J-heads tend to run 68-72cc. Also, most flat tops have valve reliefs of some kind...and I know my Wiseco's are 5cc's. If you have 5cc cut outs in yours, then you now need a 57cc head to get to 10.47 compression. I don't think you can cut that much out of a J-head.

The set of J-heads I have measure at 69cc. Using THIS volume plus the above numbers, you're looking at 9.1 to 1 compression. That's a bit on the low side for the cam in the engine. I'd DOUBLE check the compression as a starting point.
To add to the above, some of the old TRW forged pistons were nowhere near zero deck height. They were well down in the hole. So perhaps even lower CR.

OP, measure your cranking compression on all 8 cylinders with the throttle propped wide open and let us know what you get; then we'll know better what you have for compression ratio.