Hey thanks! Truth be told, I have never done something like this before. But extensive reading and research (mostly on these forums) and making sure to take my time with everything has let me take the risk in dissasembly/reassembly. It's only nuts and bolts :P
Unfortunately I have ran into a new problem; I stripped the crank snout threads and harmonic balancer bolt.
Now I need to decide on whether to drill/tap it for the next size up, or use a helicoil (never used one of those before).
Anyone have any experience with fixing stripped threads?

 

The timing cover is on. All sensors and hoses are connected on top of the motor. Still need to get an upper radiator hose, heater hoses, and serpentine belt.
Some how I managed to booger the threads on the harmonic balancer bolt. The inside of the crank snout is missing the first 1/4" of threads. I am going to order a helicoil insert kit to try and fix the threads and I will buy a new 5/8"-18tpi ARP balancer bolt.
The kit comes with a unique tap that is slight oversized from the bolt, then a cool insert is screwed in that will have an ID that matches the original balancer bolt thread. I hope it works smoothly (knock on wood).
Now I play the waiting game for parts to come in.

 

Make sure you use good loctite on the helicoil. You don't want it moving. Lol

 

Finally got the truck running!
took me 1 week of waiting for the helicoil to come in. And 2 weeks of delay because I had to work more and just didn't have time to spend on my truck.
well I managed to get time this weekend to install the helicoil in the crank snout. Then I rented a harmonic ballancer install tool and the harmonic balancer pressed right on, followed by the big balancer bolt which went smoothly into the helicoil under and t0rqued down to spec just fine.
for the serpentine belt, I found I needed an 82.5" length belth since I removed the smog pump.
Put rotella t5 10w30 a long with Lucas cam break in additive for the first start. It fired right up and I revved it to 2500rpm for 30 minutes. I varied the engine speed between 2000-3000rpm during that time. Then after 30 minutes I revved it to 4000rpm for 1 minute and then let it idle. It idles at 750rpm and sounds good. Tomorrow I assemble the grill/headlights and hoodnlatch so I can test drive it.
a moment of note: when I revved it to 4000rpm it really seemed to come alive and revved up there pretty quick. I'm wondering if the comp Valve springs and cam are allowing it t9 breathe better at the higher rpms...
I need to figure out how to post videos

 

https://youtu.be/9QOIjC3sq5Q

 

 

Sounds good.

 

Your engine sounds great. A lot of hard work ended with good results. Congrats! The stripped threads on the harmonic balancer would have made me nervous.

 

oh I was nervous all right. I kept thinking to myself that I had royally screwed up. I believe they stripped due to me using the bolt/washer method of pressing the crank gear on ( too much force pulling laterally to the threads)
I ended up renting a harmonic balancer installed tool which was really just a large threaded rod that screwed into my crank, and then slide the balancer over the rod, then use a large nut to press the balancer on. It would have worked for the gear as well.
The lesson is always use the right tool for the job the first time around.
Now I can say I've rebuilt (almost) my first motor. Still using stock bottom end but the new head and comp 260h cam really make it fun great. I especially like the all metal timing gears (stock were phenolic plastic ) because they make a neat whirring sound as the motor is running. Sounds kind of like a turbo spooling when I accelerate.