You're the first person that hasn't suggested I don't put in a stroker or something to boost torque and power. While I haven't actually driven this van (it wasn't running when I bought it) I do have a 1969 Fury with a stock 318 and I wouldn't call it under powered by any means. Thanks for your thoughts!
I'll talk with my local machinist about these changes. There is little to no ridge at the top of the cylinders. Honestly, I was thinking of honing myself, buying a stroker kit and some aluminum heads and reassembling with a new timing chain, mild cam, and four barrel carb. It seems like I could get away with minimal machine work and do most, if not all the work in my garage. I do want to be wary of the compression ratio as I'd like to run pump gas.
