I think I would try getting the compresion up useing a zero decked flat top piston a .035 cometic that fits YOUR bore, then mill the head to get your desired compression. High compression is not hard to get with a 400+ inch flat top piston small block. Doing you motor this way will get you the good flame travel from a flat top piston, genourous quench helps build tq and compression will help all around. If you do your motor this way you can use higher compression than a dome motor with no quench, also you will need less timing witch alows the burning fuel to push during the power stroke instead of the compression stroke, this will also allow more compression on a given octane