Spoiler: IT RUNS!!!!! Kyle wanted to hear it run prior to total reassembly, so we busted ass today (in the 30* weather) to get the engine wired/rigged and after a quick fill up of the fuel tank, she fired right off and settled into a nice idle. Found a few vacuum/fuel/coolant leaks as to be expected, fixed those, and just let it run for a while.
Now there's a heck of a lot of motivation to button her up and get it drivable. I'm so stoked for him, as it's been a long haul thus far. I wish my z was even close to this point, but that's another story.