Try a compression check. Sounds like you may have been running your carb bowls dry going up the mountain. You might have burned your rings. Hopefully someone else will chime in and shed some light.
Yup just get a 120 and break it to the final length you need. I think most guys end up with around 112-116 links. I'm in the same boat as you here in a week or two.
Not with just long rods. If your rod is 5mm longer, your piston will come 5mm above the cylinder, and BDC will be 5mm higher in your cylinders. When its a 4mm stroke, your piston goes 2mm lower than stock BDC and goes 2mm higher than stock TDC.
No you don't run the plate, just the 795 pistons. Your stroke is determined on the crankshaft and not the rods. If your rod is 5mm longer, it will remain the same stroke.
I think that you could get even better power gains if you add one pink and one purple powerband and torque them down to 24ft/lbs. That should give you the most gains. JMO
True. My current dodge with a 360 gets on average 13 city 15 highway, but it has gotten 22 before. 45-55mph for 440 miles. I couldn't believe it and thought my gauge was broke until I filled back up.