Yea, it's kinda funny how tire pressure ( basically free $) can be as important as cylinder pressure (basically expensive$) when it comes to gettin' the job done! Personally, I think whatever year block you have is fine. Boring is for cleaning up a block, not building "Big Power". Check the cylinders out to find a block that'll take the least cleaning up. Rod bolts worry me more than what the zinc content in my block is. It's all those "little" things that tend to loom large, like exactly how good is that torque wrench?hmm....or, "where's my glasses, what does that dial say?". Small block Mopars are not like BB chevys when it comes to cracking apart at the seams! They're pretty dang tuff! Be sure to balance everything, assemble it right, and you'll be good to go. Spend the brain cells ( and $$) on getting the gases in and out and putting the power to the pavement.
