Darbone85737

I got the spring in and the teeth will rachet to tighten the cable. Now I just need to figure how to get the teeth to release LOL   . ( played around with it for a bit and I got it.   A very "fiddly" kind of job   Thanks again

Thanks to the group (and Steve Chandler in particular) I spent some time rummaging through boxes of parts I got back from powder coating and found the linkage parts.  They were assembled wrong so they wouldn't fit. (The swiveled joint was on the wrong end of the rod. 
 
All is well once again and I'll keep the Rube Goldberg system
 
I can't thank the group and people here enough.  I know I'll get this done one of these days
 
Larry

Thanks. Yes, I just pulled the distributor out enough to clear the tang on the drive from the oil pump slot and  rotated  it 180. I must have had it wrong after all      I also pulled the # 1 spark plug and used the thumb over the hole method to make sure I was on the compression stroke.  The rotor is  at 7'oclock and both valves in   # 1 are closed. 
 
When I had the distributor body timed to break at TDC and put the distributor cap back on it didn't seem the rotor is in a position to make the contact with # 1 terminal in the cap.  Looking at it now I'm realizing I had been  "timing" with the point rubbing block on the wrong side of the distributor lobe  LOL 
 
Got back to it and ....  I'm officially a senile dumb ass  LOL  Anyway,   It's alive
 
Thanks to everyone.  I need to learn it's seemingly always the simple things and to stop thinking so much. I haven't set and timed a distributor/points ignition in 53 years.  Hopefully someone down the line will search, read this and be helped.  Thanks again 
 
Larry

Got it done.  Brought the transmission to a friends auto shop.  Zipped it right off using his air wrench.
 
I think the problem was lack of CFM.  Lesson learned and thanks for the help 
 
L. 

So the boot is  on and I've replaced the rollers on the pin.   Now the metal cover won't slip over the assembled joint and allow the joint to recess enough to allow for the spring and cover to be reinstalled.
 
How do I get this thing back together?
 
Sorry for these dumb questions.  I do have the manual but there isn't any explanation for this and  it's just frustrating 
 
Thanks once again
Larry