Installed one bank of valves this afternoon. You will remember I had inadvertantly damaged one of the valve springs last weekend, so I made the decision to replace them all. Didn't want to risk overlooking one which was not quite so obviously compromised. Fortunately I had a spare set of springs.
Crankshaft was installed after cam, but before the valves. It was significantly more difficult to spin, after the rear oil seal (the white rope type) was put in. It turned very easily prior, so it must be the wretched seal which is the culprit. I did try another type, which came with my gasket set, but it was FAR WORSE! That one was a dark grey, woven type.
I had been dreading doing this mod. You can see I have made a passage way for oil to return to sump from valve chamber. This modification has been documented on a number of well known internet forums and resources for French Flatheads. I now need to weld up the corresponding holes in the oil pan. If a baffle tube had been available, this alteration would not have been required. The Ford oil vent tube is nowhere near the right size, and despite numerous seraches, I have not found any French ones.
Distributor and backing plate were installed, just to stop the cam from walking when I turned (with some force) the crank. I used a modern single piece front crank seal. Wish there was something similar possible for the rear. That rope seal is just primitive!