I have an '88 4x4 with a 700R4
I like it. That's one of the reasons I've held onto it through everything myself and my truck have been through.
When I bought it, it had 250,000 mi but it was doing OK.
A rat ate the wiring harness, and following that there was a small fire so I converted it to a carb.
It used to get reasonably good fuel economy for a truck. When it had a TBI it got 19 mpg on the highway and after I converted it to a Quadrajet it was the same, once it was dialed in.
Presently I have a 327 that I thought would be good, but it lacks the torque to pull OD with the TCC in lockup, and that has hurt my fuel consumption numbers.

So I'll be putting a fresh engine in there at some point in the future.

When it had a 350 in it I was using a stock short block with some 1.94/1.5 small chamber heads, from a 1969 Monte Carlo - and it did fairly well
But with the factory dished pistons and deck clearance, I can only guess at what the CR was.
I got my hands on some Dart 165 heads with 72cc chambers and 2.02/1.6" valves
These heads will give me about 9.5:1 CR with flattop pistons and .040" clearance.
The cam I plan on using is a Melling hyd roller 206deg @ .050 - 214 exh @ .050" 112 LSA.

I have heard that 2.02/1.6 valves are a poor choice for a truck... Other guys tell me that they work just fine.
I guess I'll find out... I'd like it to have better low end than my 327, considering that I turn at 1800 rpm @ 60 mph, and the 327 won't pull that.

Does anyone have any input to share on this? Particularly interested in info on using 2.02/1.6 valves for this application

This is a really interesting project because the 327 is right on the edge of working ok. But when I engage the TC clutch @ 60 mph, the vacuum gauge drops

Thanks in advance - As Always