So finally the engine has come together with only final settings required after it is installed in the car.  The oil pan was installed after a new oil pump and pick up screen were put in.  The engine was turned back to the top view once that was accomplished for the heads and intake manifold to be torqued and installed with appropriate gaskets and atv silicone adhesives.  The valve covers were loosely placed on and will come off again once the  engine is installed and then the valves will be set through tightening the rocker arms.  I installed the oil dipstick tube and the distributor hold down ready for the distributor to be installed.  I have to order new spark plug wires as the ones from the car are 40 plus years old.  They look to be in very good condition from afar but I am not chancing their performance after being in a cocoon for so long.  The points and condenser will likely have to be changed as well.  I also ordered new spark plugs which will be installed before I install the engine.  It is nice when all the pieces are cleaned and ready to install instead of having to worry about it while installing.  Even the valve covers had quite a few hours restoring to an acceptable level from sitting on a shelf all these years.  I had to sand blast them, then polish the appearance as best as I could.  They don’t look new but nor do I.  So this is a refreshed engine with new bearings, rings and valve stem seals.  The engine was honed and cleaned up with tolerances measured.  I am not used to having engines built like this or refreshed as it may.    I usually start with a clean slate and order new oversized pistons to fit a bored block, replace all head valves and new guides, etc, not to forget ordering new rod bolts, chrome moly rings, and the like.  I am not building a performance engine.  That way of building is likely a thing of the past for me as the cost has gone completely whacked.  I want  a good running engine that is reliable and I can use it for years to come.  I don’t need to race, no time trials, no smokey burnouts as these things are no longer practical for me (not that they ever were practical but used to be a ton of fun…….back then.)  Have you  seen the price of sport tires lately? Have you seen our pot hole plagued roads?  I could have put a four barrel intake and carb on this engine but it didn’t make sense.  I am trying to save another car without breaking the bank along the way.  If you stress on all the performance on your build you will be surprised how fast the price escalates and for what?  Just to sound mean going to the next show?  I have had my days of driving done up cars to come home smelling of unspent fuel in my clothes.  The engines I had built were made to go fast but weren’t as efficient to drive “Miss Daisy” at a slow pace around town.  This Cougar will not be slow with it’s two barrel intake and carb combination.  It will get to high speeds rather easily but I’ll never test it.  It will sound good from the exhaust without the lumpy camshaft.  If I sound old it is because I am getting there.  If I want to continue saving vehicles from the wrecker then something has to give.  I’ll trade away speed and performance to save another vehicle.