Hmm...I have a set of Oliver rods with L-19 bolts for my new build.  Food for thought.

The last time I installed a cam plug, I just ran a bead of RTV around it...I remember seeing a picture a while back of a plug that had a fender washer held over the edge of the plug by a screw that was drilled and tapped into the cam plug boss.  I can't imagine this is necessary, but I wanted to get some opinions...

I hear you on the safety issue... It's currently laying on my bench...but my wife and children have been known to repurpose my tools from time to time, and I would absolutely lose my shit if I walked into my shop to see it fallen over if I had it standing up!

I can tell you my reasons for a full undercar exhaust...
1.  Quieter.  If you've never driven a side pipe big block cobra, well, you need earplugs.  I have.  It's absurdly loud and that's a fact.
2.  I have kids.  It's safer.
3. It's classy.  That's just my opinion.

Two years ago, I was out for a Sunday drive in my Cobra.  Ambient temp was warm, maybe 82.  About 30 minutes from home, my temp gauge started creeping up from its normal 180-190.  Naturally, I ignored that little voice in my head until it hit 205.  Just as panic set in, the temp shot up to 220 and I saw steam...I quickly pulled into an abandoned lot, not noticing a 3 foot diameter puddle.  It was not a puddle.  It wasn't a pothole.  It was a sinkhole over a foot deep and I crashed right through it.  The impact tore off the lower radiator hose, instantly dumping all the coolant.  Oh, and bending a rim.  My electric fan relay had burned out. Moral: listen to the little voice.

That's really healthy.  Congrats.  I assume the bore is 4.310?

Those are for a small block ford