I bought a timing cover gasket set on ebay, and it came with small sections of the oil pan gasket, just the section that goes between the timing cover and pan. I won't be using them if you need them.
The plan is to also install Indy T/A heads, with the modman six pack I've been waiting to get back from the polisher. I continue to post pic's of my progress.
If you don't have a handle to feed the cam in with a nice long 7/16" bolt screwed into the cam will help stabilize it while your installing it so you don't bang it off the cam bearings and scar them all up.
Make sure the lifters rotate real free in their bores with just a little light oil mist on them such as WD-40. If you run across a lifter that's tight in a bore that's a major problem that must be corrected or you'll flatten a cam. If you do run into that issue check the bore for scoring or burrs. Doesn't take much sometimes. Sometimes swapping lifters from hole to hole can help. A half thousandth here and a half thousandth there ads up
Degree the cam in. Don't trust that just because everything is new and a name brand it's correct. A few yrs. ago I rounded up several good used timing chain sets all of which were major brands and installed them dot to dot on an engine I had on the stand and checked the valve timing. From best to worst there was 5 degrees difference. That can cost you a good amount of power. The worst one I ever saw was on a 454 Chevy of a buddy of mine. Dot to dot it was 12 degrees off. It was a generic timing set and I think he learned his lesson not to buy cheap junk again.
Lastly, double check the lifter preload when you get it assembled. Also wouldn't hurt to check the rocker arm sweep, especially if the rocker arms are aftermarket parts
All cleaned up and ready to install the new parts starting tonight.
I ordered a new timing chain with the degreed key ways, as I'm advancing the cam 2 degrees.
Cam installed, found TDC of the piston and set degree wheel at 0.
Installed lifter on #1 intake lobe, went .050 on borh of the max lift and record degree on the wheel. Cam set at 2 degrees advanced, which is at 106.