Yesterday, spun the oil pump drive shaft with a drill and brought the oil pressure gauge to 40 psi (spilled some oil through the distributor hole in the process). Yesterday, my copilot was watching the oil pressure gauge.
After some initial difficulty, managed to stab the distributor at what I thought was TDC on #1, then turned ignition on and used remote starter switch to start the engine while using the timing light. My initial stab turned out to be a bit retarded (literally), but turning the distributor counterclockwise allowed it to start. Vacuum advance unit is now pointing directly towards the firewall. Checking the timing, it was about 20 degrees BTDC at a normal idle, the same as before the rebuild.
As soon as I locked down the distributor, I sat in the car and brought the engine up to a fast idle, which I held for 20 minutes. Oil pressure was initially around 65 psi and AFR was around 13.5-14.5. By the end of the 20 minutes, water temperature was up to about 185 (I haven't remounted the electric fan, so I put a large house fan in front of the radiator to keep the engine from getting hotter) and oil pressure was still at about 40 psi at a normal idle.
Finally, I adjusted the idle screws - the idle was a bit rich. Final AFR was 14 - 15 at about 900 RPM.
Issues:
There's some seepage around the oil pan gasket. I need to tighten up the oil pan nuts (I used studs).
There were a few drops of oil around the oil filter. When it cools down enough to touch, I'll tighten it as much as I can by hand. This oil may have been from when I spun the oil pump with the drill.
Most curiously, my vacuum gauge (permanently mounted) is showing only 5" of vacuum. That can't be right - I had 11" vacuum at idle with the 274/274/110 cam, and the 280/280/110 cam can't be that different. I suspect that I have a leak in the vacuum line to the gauge, or another vacuum leak somewhere else, that is skewing the reading.
Did not drive it - there's a cotter pin still needed on the castellated nut that holds the centerlink into the pitman arm, and I want to double-check the motor mount and under-engine brace fasters before I drive it. If no unexpected issues come up, I should be able to drive it tomorrow.
Thanks
Bob the Builder
P.S. With the help of a friend, I ran stainless braided fuel lines for the first time.