Yep, Paranoid. Torque them down with oil on the threads and evenly across the shaft, not in a line from front to back. They can be lose because theres no oil in the liffters.
Oil pick up tube, 1/4 inch from the bottom of the pan Is right. And level
#1 is at TDC, oil pump drive gear is in, the rotor in the mock up dist. is pointing at the first exhaust bolt (stud) on the driver side,
As in number 1 cylinder. The one closet to the rad, not the fire wall.
Oil pan gaskets, I have a stock FelPro cork set and one of the summit
PN SCE-269091 one piece reuseable gaskets. I have never had a problem with the stock ones should I just go with them and save the summit piece for the "go fast" motor for my 27 T.