My doomed 408 build

Hope it turns out better this time, but hope you finished your block washing with soap and water? I would personally NEVER use brake clean in this situation....
We did not wash the block with soap and water. I also did not remove any freeze plugs. My Dad and I felt that with brake cleaner and compressed air we would get any debris loose, and then a light film of WD-40 to keep it from flash rusting. We used engine assembly lube on all bearing faces, motor oil when installing the pistons, Guy from machine shop said that was OK, and what he would do.