Eegore - Eet Leeves! Got my 77 running!

[D13]

Bought this truck a year ago, 77 1/2 250 3OTT ex southern county truck. Well, it sort of ran, electric choke disconnected and manual choke not working well, etc.
Over the winter I rebuilt the carb, took 2 carbs to make 1 good one. Then I replaced the leaking valve cover (no gasket, overtorqued wet RTV, bent flange) cleaning the sand out of the cover and most of it off the head (truck had lived in a gravel pit the last couple years). Replaced the fuel pump (consitantly leaking down, bad check valve), cracked vacuum hoses (appeared to be factory), and capped off unused vacuum ports (since EFE and EGR are deleted). Pushed it out of the barn (lessons learned form previous carb rebuilds), threw a tablespoon of gos down it, and it fired up!
Poured gas out of the carb vapor port, probably a pint in 20 seconds! Turned it off and walked away, grabbed the fire extinguisher and worked nearby for an hour.
Once it evaporated and cooled enough that I thought the risk of fire was acceptable (since the gas was dumped directly on the exhaust manifold...) I opened the carb, set the float way low, then buttoned it up and tried again.
Leaks gas, steady stream out the fuel line nut!
Turned it off, tightened both nuts (gotta be careful not to strip that filter nut!).
After waiting an hour (there was LOTS of gas on the engine) i started it up.
IT RUNS! Idle is too high, mix is a little lean, etc. but it ran!

Then it started smoking out the valve cover breather inlet, even with a new PCV and hose. Crap. And the clutch (supposedly new) has zero free play, and the trans whines. But it now runs and drives, although with manul steering and manual brakes (yes, manual front disc rear drum brakes) it's not really a pleasure. And every piece of trim is loose or broken. And the wireing is just.. scary. They added aftermarket AC and managed to get the fan stuck permanently on, then filled it with sand.

But it runs! And I love it! now 2 out of my 5 are running!