Engine and Transmission Tech

My 1961 215 is in the shop for a routine rebuild after being stored for years. The famous 3/85 Phil Baker "Hot Rod"article discusses "opening up" the factory block oiling passages and substituting a 231ci oil pickup unit. These steps were not taken during the first rebuild years ago. Have these recommendations been found over the years to be regarded as really necessary? No mention in the article of how big "opening up" is - anyone have a suggestion or experience? This engine had a routine rebuild many years ago and ran in the car for a few years before storage...always seemed to register low - but not scary low - oil pressure at low rpm. It had the recommended high volume oil pump. I'm wondering if I should have these fixes done at this time. Plan is to have a driver, not a high performance car.

Here's a past thread on this issue.
[forum.britishv8.org]

Jim Blackwood has always championed that fix.

Thanks for the info. Let me try my luck with another question: the 215 head has two plugs nestled in by the valve springs...these look like the type of pipe thread plugs you might find in a differential case. I can't tell by looking if these lead into an oiling passage or a coolant passage. My question: should these be removed as part of the engine cleaning process? Or do they typically self-destruct after 50+ undisturbed years in the head and are better left alone?