excessive 340 crankcase pressure

IMHO if you're running a PCV valve/ vent set up and blowing the dip stick out or oil out of the vent you have ring issues.

I've been messing with Mopars since I was in high school in the mid-late 70's. Both big blocks and small blocks and all I've ever ran was a PCV valve in one valve cover and a breather in the other and never had any issues with blowing the dip stick out or blowing oil out of the breather in the valve cover unless the ring seal was bad. My current 434" small block turns 7200 and doesn't have any issues. The PCV valve in it is probably 15-17 years old and came from Advance Auto Parts, nothing fancy.

Possibly. But which is easier to do right off the bat? I vote that he get the PCV system straightened out first. It's free or almost free. The leakdown test will tell him what's up if "that" doesn't fix it.