It sounds like those pistons he has sit down too low in the block,if they are copies of 307 pistons.
IIRC, the TRW forged flat top pistons I have,I only had to deck the block about.010 & now it has a positive deck from.001 -.004
Or the block has a little taller deck?
I would just deck it .040 if it is not an all out race engine,it should be fine.
Or buy pistons that sit @ the proper height.
MBHD