Here's what I would do. These engines are tough. Get it running so you can drive it around a little to listen for rods knocking and the sort. If you don't here that, you won't be hurting anything.
More importantly, you will have the awesome self-gratification from saying, "Look what I did!"


1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission