chinese 1.6 steel roller rockers & RHoads lifters

You're going to be lugging the engine so badly at highway speed, it's going to ruin the efficiency altogether. I cannot get you to understand that. Even if you go with the 2.76, your final ratio in high gear (OD) is going to be 2.01. If you get a strong head wind, you'll have to down shift. The mileage will suffer terribly. You're not going to like it.
If I get it to work good, YOU are driving it and will have to post a write up "Greymouser7 was Right!!" ha ha ha!
Those jive turkey Diplomat's -some had 2.25 gears and V8's.
I had a 267 sbc (3.5" bore) 1980 Impala (Caprice Classic) with 2.55's -it drove like it had 60 horsepower, but would make it up to 130mph.