Timing cover and dress up???

Thats good to hear, obviously this is my first time into this motor. Other times I have done this have been on Chevy 350's. The Thermostat housing issue was just pitted corrosion and it being cast iron on cast iron.......So the gasket did not seat properly and it leaked until I honed the pitting out of the manifold and the upper hose fitting.
Any tricks or cautionary tales with the harmonic balancer or timing gears and chain?