I'm posting this as another option, and some data:
I built a 400 using the stock crank, albeit forged, and had the rod journals ground to 2.200 (BBC) used 6.800 rods with the Icon IC828 piston with a compression height of 1.485. The block was decked to 9.965, so the pistons were .010 proud. With a Cometic .045 gasket, that's about as tight as you can get for piston/head clearance. 452 iron heads, with a good value job and some blending, flow as 240I/200E at .500, surfaced until they were flat, and average of 3 chambers was 89cc. Calculated compression is 9.0:1, runs fine on 91 octane, under all condition so far. Cam was an Erson hydraulic roller, 231/237 at 050, 112 LSA, used with solid roller lifters and .008 lash, per Erson. There were some issues with the hydraulic roller lifters and I needed to put it together. Made 435HP and 440ft-lbs of torque with an out of the box Holley 750 vacuum secondary card and basic Performer intake, minimal tuning. Has 20 inches of vacuum. I'm sure there's a lot left to be found, but time was short.
Assuming the crank needs to be ground anyways, it may not be a big deal to get the rod journals to BBC dimensions instead. Something to consider. S/F...Ken M
Addendum: If you get 6.76 rods with a .990 pin, that leaves you .030 in the bore, going to a .030 gasket, and the math says 8.6:1 compression, which will run on 87 all day long.
