Quick update:
Every time I tried bolting-on the timing chain cover today those tiny little da** cork oil pan "gasket-ends" would squirt out on me, and after several failed attempts I decided it's better to do the job "right" than "right now" (not my car, remember?), so tomorrow morning I'll be borrowing an engine stand from a buddy (mine is in-use), and by 3:00 or so that 318 should be swinging in the air and on its way onto the stand.
Yeah, I'm frustrated, and I've had enough of playing around with those little half-assed gaskets. Gonna take 'er out, spin 'er over, and do the da** job right!
I'll probably put a new oil pump in it was well, long as I've got the bottom-end opened up.
Punch list is getting longer, but I'm still shooting for Labor Day to return the car to it's owner. Hopefully....