I finally got the new bullet back from the machine shop and will be stabbing it this weekend with the help of 71Shark.

The builder told me to gap the plugs at .35.  The '80 manuals all say .45.

Which one is correct and does it matter?  This guy builds mostly race engines and is successful with his own engines (back to back 4 times at the local raceway) so I'm sure he has his reasons. 

After the $$$ sunk in the engine, I don't want to screw it up.

Any suggestions?

Go with the builder's reccommendation. You no longer have the stock, original '80 engine, so fact. specs are out the door.
Good luck with the install!!

Ditto.

WOW!!!

I just dropped an MSD Street Fire Distributor in place of the tired old factory one and WHAT A DIFF!!!!

Even after the engine rebuild, she still loped a bit (much more than an RV cam should), and seemed to burn an excessive amount of fuel (around 9mpg).  Also, the magic machine (diagnostic type) at the local vette tuner guys shop showed that 1, 6 & 7 were not pushing all the energy they could thru the new wires.  After finding nothing burned and running it in the dark and spritzing water on the distributor cap to enduce any little lightning, Joe Loomis, (previously mentioned vette guy) determined that something was wrong with the distributor itself.

Rather than rebuilding the current tired one or buying a factory one I ponied up an extra $30 or so and for $149 bought the MSD.  Man,  she runs like the proverbial striped-@$$ Ape.  Now I believe the new motor was worth the $$$.

Oh yeah, the estimates for the damage by AAA's wrecker guy came in between $3,000 and $4,000 for the vette and $650 for the damage to 71Shark's concrete drive.  The documents are in and I hope to hear something when I get back from business travel in two weeks.  Wish me luck!

And jest how, pray tell, does a "striped-@$$ Ape" run

Glad to hear that, Dennis!! And GOOD LUCK on the ins. deal. I hope they do ya rite!