I took the rocker cover back off this evening, and the first thing I saw was nice fresh yummy-looking oil and no stray shards of engine 
Loosened each head bolt in turn, as per the Haynes, and torqued them up to their final 80 lb/ft. Rocker cover back on, static timing checked again, engine fired up and all seemed tickety-boo. I then plugged the old Gunson timing light into number one sparky and twiddled the distributor to get to 8 degrees before TDC.
Next step was going to be adjusting the carb, but it would appear the the mixture screw is missing – and has been for some time (assuming I’m looking in the right place). I’ve had to wind the idle screw right in to maintain tickover, so think I’ll need to find a new screw from somewhere. I’m guessing it’s a specialist thing with a spring?
The mystery of the “spare” set screw and nut was solved too – it was missing from the clip holding the pipe onto the inlet manifold that connects up to the brake gubbins 
Eagle-eyed readers might also notice another new mod in this shot, ten points to the first one to guess what the red post in the foreground is for … 
Finally, I’ll end with a question – how far in should the temp sender go? It’s in far enough to appear not to be leaking, but is it meant to be flush with the head? I’m worried if I tighten it any more I’ll strip the thread.
EDIT: That’s not a crack in the head, though it does look like it 
It’s a filament of brass that’s spun out as I’ve screwed the temp sender in.
Early night for me tonight – think I’ve earned it 
EDIT 26/09/07 :
GJUK : Is the red capped item a remote jumping point – having moved your battery?
Dave : I think the temp senders are a taper fit, so if it is tight and not leaking it is far enough.
I know someone who screwed it in so far it cracked the head. 
Can’t think what the red post is for. 
Unless it’s a remote bleed nipple.
Group4_Mark2 : Great write up and photos of a very interesting thread. Keep up the good work. As for the idle screw it normally does not have a spring on this type of carb and is recessed a few mm inside the carb. Use a small flat screwdriver to wind it out.
DarthVader : I normaly put a wrap of thread tape around the sensor
dangerousdave : Stu just as the page was loading i saw the bolt missing from that clip in the old pics, you beat me to it 
Also the red caps come with goodridge hose sets so im assuming you have flashed the cash and brought the car into modernisation??