Fran,
I assume the Amtak blank you have is a 1087, 9ft, rated 3/4-4oz. I have never used it but it sounds like a light to medium surf stick. I assume you are not using it to soak bait in "big" surf so here are my thoughts. Where are you and your buddy going to fish?
First, if you are fishing shallow, sandy beaches with relatively small fish, like I do in SC, then the rod needed to throw the weight is FAR MORE rod than you need to fight the fish. I have actually started building lighter and lighter surf sticks, not just to fish differently but to have more fun when I hook up. On the other hand, if I had to take ONE rod to the beach (I'll pause while we all chuckle...) it would be my Lami PSB1202L which is happiest throwing 2-3oz. I almost never throw 4, sometimes 2 and usually 3 when fishing bait. I use 14lb mono line max and will sometimes go as light as 6lb fishing for pompano and whiting (with smaller rods).
All that being said, it sounds like you have picked a good "go to" blank for general surf fishing. Unless you are going to be around a lot of strucutre I would probably use a 4000 to 6000 class Shimano or one of the other manufacturers with a reel weighing about 16 oz (+/- a couple oz) and spool it with 15lb line. My ABUs hold over 200yds of such line and I've only been close to spooled once, and that was a 5ft spinner shark that I don't think I would have turned with 1000yds of line. Even if you are around the occassional rocks, pilings or oyster beds, you should be able to compensate with appropriate leaders.
Coming back to the question of guides, I would definetly purchase the 40 and see if you think you need it. The Fuji BYAG30 or Batson VS3 would give you the same height off the blank, I've just never used them to sling 3oz and don't know how they would hold up. I would definitely do "new concept" and get down to size 10 running guides. I have nothing larger than size 10 running guides on any of may surf rods and they work fine, even with shock leaders and knots. I buitl a Rainshadow 1264 spinning for my brother in law last year and used BLAG10s with a locking wrap and I've heard of no problems.

Marty, this is a great help to me! Thanks! I will be using the surf rod primarily in Myrtle Beach. Size 10 runners were what I had planned. I will get the 40 on my next order. Meanwhile, I'll find the reel so I can implement the concept guide layout.

I would look at the black Electra thread for that white blank - should itself off at a distance and really sparkle when you get up close.