Dad, sorry about the problems with your engine. I'm sure you luck will turn around, sounds like plenty of people are willing to help out, and certainly if you were in My neighborhood I'd be doing the same.

I've used this https://www.summitracing.com/oh/sear...e-block-filler to prevent leaks on an 0.060 over 289 with a leaky sleeve. It never leaked again and it's supposed to strengthen the block. regardless, it saved me a little money, since I had already bought the pistons and machine work for that overbore.

Anyway, I built a SBF 331 for my F5 which needed slight clearancing using H beam rods in an early 302 block, YMMV on the clearancing of blocks.

Now days with the prolific use of stroker kits, rod clearance always needs to be checked, which requires one extra step to mockup the assembly before final cleaning and assembly.

Good luck!

Scott