Not familiar with his shop, he's about 12 hours south from me. But I need to give him a call.

Yes, Panama City. I have a 440 that needs to be redone for strong street strip duty, going through the body now. Will give you a call when it's time for the motor.

Does it make any difference if the plate is aluminum and you are using iron heads?

I don't think it makes much difference but the aluminum one is way easier on the back!

Just as a note way back in time (1992) my machinist (new to me then) talked me into going from .040 over to .060 over so we could smooth out my bores from not having a torque plate. He had one so I went in after the motor was bored and he showed me how nice and round the cylinders were. then he bolted on the torque plate and he showed me how much that pushed the cylinders out of round! Then showed me how they now honed out straight. he too wants the head gasket you will be using nice I went bigger bore head gasket two years ago so they are the ones 1105 I'll be using so I have used ones to use!
So the only change I made was the + 4 cubic inches and we went up .5 in compression 10 to 1s to 10.5 (or standard 10 to 1's to 10.5 six barrel pistons) same cam heads and all and it ran at least .55 better all the time so I was sold! So if you give .15 to .2 to the little raise in compression and cubes the .4 to .35 was from better sealing bores!!!
Since Dan's looked so pretty and I could not talk him into boring his plate out from 4.380 to the 4.5+ I need now I bit the bullet for a real nice piece!!