Building for Torque Porting Question

[70mach1]

So I have read through all of the posts with interest but my situation is different than the OP. Here is a little background: I have a 28 AV8 Closed Cab Pickup that I am setting out to rebuild the 8BA that I installed into it earlier this year. I bought the engine locally dressed out with some performance items. The engine has Offy .400 heads and a dual carb intake with 2 -97s on it. I have an HEI distributor on it as well. It is supposed to have a Potvin 3/8 cam in it. The truck drives great and feels quick, even with the 3-3/4 stroke and .030 over it currently is. The only real performance issue I have with the truck is torque related. I have an RTS Overdrive behind the engine and 3.78 gears with a 7.00X16 rear tire. That translates to 2000rpm at 70. The truck does not have enough power to pull hills in overdrive at 70-75mph. I have a LOT of blow by and excessive oil consumption, hence the rebuild. I plan to do any porting and relieving myself, I am a toolmaker and have done other engines, this is my first Flathead. I have already purchased a SCAT 4-1/8" stroker kit with the .125 over Ross pistons, bearings and gaskets for a 284" build. Here are my questions:

1. I get that relieving might not be worth the money if you are paying someone to do it, but doing it myself is it a bad idea for any reason? I would think that the main point of this mod is to unshroud the valves to use OHV speak. So, maybe not a full relief, but at least bringing the block down around the low side of the valve and blending with a more gentle slope up to the deck? This would serve most of the benefits of relieving without as much of a compression loss.

2. My performance issue can also be solved by changing my 3.78 gears for an already purchased set of 4.44. But I was hoping to gain enough power with the extra bore and stroke to keep my RPMs in the basement while cruising. I have gotten advice to ditch the Potvin cam for a 1007B Isky. Do y'all concur?