396/402 Need some thoughts... internals pic heavy

[HawkX66]

So I have this "running" 396 that I picked up back east last summer. It's the original 300 hp 402 out of a 71 SS396 Chevelle that I plan on running in place of my born with motor that I'm storing away. Of course once I cracked it open to assess things, I found it obviously wasn't running in a long time....
When I say "budget build" I mean this engine will probably make engine guys cry when I get it back together... I know I can buy a 454 etc. I have what I have and I'm going to make the best of it. Help with doing that will be appreciated.
I'd like to get away with new bearings, rings, cam & lifters. I might replace the valves too. There was some damage to one. I'm planning on honing the block myself. This is just going to be a runner for a while. I know it won't be a rocket... I can't afford to "build" this motor right now, so I just want to fix it and maybe cam it. Any recommendations to bump up the hp & torque without head & piston work?
It's a std crank, bore and the factory cam. Can someone confirm that the pistons are the factory 8.5:1 that came with it? They aren't exactly flat top, but I think they're just the standard factory pistons.
Someone has been in the motor before. The oil pump was brazed and all the rods & caps have been marked with cylinder numbers. It has a Cloyes double roller timing chain that appears to be in good condition and 14 of the push rods are Melling MPR-44 & 44a. Two look factory. I'll buy two new push rods... I suspect this has something to do with the valve retainer damage. What do you think could have caused that? See the pic below.

Heads: 3993820 113cc open chamber oval port 2.06 intake 1.72 ex
Crank:3904815NF Standard grind
Cam: factory
Standard Bore block

So my questions are:
1. Are these pistons factory or bumped up compression?
2. What do I need for bearings? Everything is standard. Can I just ordered standard bearings or are there options?
3. Same question with rings.



Damaged Retainer:

[Kelley W King]

Comp grinds the LS6 in Hydraulic, I have one sounds good idles 750 to 800
DUI will curve you an HEI to match your cam,comp,weight, and gear. I have not tried it but it sounds good.
Power feelings will come from your gears. My is a dog with 3.36. I think the cam cannot get to its range quick enough but it was a dog with the stock cam also.

[HawkX66]

Comp grinds the LS6 in Hydraulic, I have one sounds good idles 750 to 800
DUI will curve you an HEI to match your cam,comp,weight, and gear. I have not tried it but it sounds good.
Power feelings will come from your gears. My is a dog with 3.36. I think the cam cannot get to its range quick enough but it was a dog with the stock cam also.

Thanks Kelley. If yours is a dog with 3.36, I'm sure mine will be much better with my stock 3.31s lol....

[Kelley W King]

If you keep the 3.31,s you might want a 454 or 502

[HawkX66]

Or a 427 or 572 or... I know what's out there, but I don't have a spare $x,000.00 to spend. I'd like to fix this motor. 400 ft lbs of torque with the original cam. A new cam should make more power. Should be plenty to move the tires. I'm not expecting 12s out of it with what I plan on running for now.

[L78 steve]

looks like it was ready to drop a valve.

[HawkX66]

looks like it was ready to drop a valve.

Definitely close!

[cook_dw]

If you need help with your engine you can shoot me a pm or give me call and I can give you some advice, cam choice, etc.   I would do yourself a huge favor and have a valve job and guides and have them cut for posi lock seals.. 

[HawkX66]

If you need help with your engine you can shoot me a pm or give me call and I can give you some advice, cam choice, etc.   I would do yourself a huge favor and have a valve job and guides and have them cut for posi lock seals.. 

I appreciate that Darrell. There's a bunch of  things that I'd really love to do, but I think I'm just going to try cleaning up the heads and lapping the valves and call it a day for that. This motor really doesn't need to be anything special. It's just a place holder for a while. If I do one thing, I'll end up in quicksand and have spent too much money.

[HustleRussell]

This piston is from standard bore 1968 L35 0.19 dome.

[HustleRussell]

I purchased this piston at swat meet earlier this year. I was told it was from 71 402. 0.115 dome.

[HustleRussell]

Your pistons look like silvolite 1445 replacements.

[HawkX66]

Your pistons look like silvolite 1445 replacements.

Nice. So someone probably bumped the compression up from 8.5:1. Thanks. Gives me a direction to look in.