Thanks again motorbill, but my impatience got the best of me and I installed it anyway. Took better part of morning throughout the afternoon but it "felt" like it went together well enough... My fingers are crossed that the cork inserts didn't lay over into the pan while I was getting the first couple of bolts started. I was holding the pan up against the block w/one shoulder and pushing off garage floor w/the other for leverage while fumbling around starting the bolts w/opposite arm. I figured that I'd let it set up/cure today and will be oiling 'er up in the morning and then we'll see...
The Transmission gasket we've discussed was actually pretty easy/simple (thank goodness for 1/4" drive socket sets tho'). Provided it dosen't leak that will feel like quite an easy coup by comparison. For whatever reason it had no paper/other gasket in it, just some orange permatex stuff.
It's amazing to think what these cars have probably been through/seen over the years and decades. I think half the nuts and plugs on mine were crossthreaded at some point and look they were ran home anyway.
Best,
Ed G.