The vice is to prevent the gear from rotating and not to try to squeeze juice out of it. If your "touch" is 770 lbs ft. perhaps a helper is in order...the teeth on that gear are aggressive. Try and use good judgement throughout the process from beginning to end.
Points and capacitor will yield a max open circuit of around 24KV. Your HEI is closer to 40KV. Ignition coils for GM points distributors DO NOT OPERATE AT 12 volts. They operate at 9-volts except for cranking where the starter solenoid sends an over-ride signal to the down side of your spanking new ceramic ballast resistor. Might as well retrograde to cotton cord tires and tar top batteries with genuine Port Orford Cedar separators. Doing ANYTHING different frequently causes cars to fail emissions tests. This and 7.45 mpg is a good reason to shun garbage grade rebuilt distributors.
IMHO Delco made HEI modules are some of the most dependable electronics on the planet.
Meanwhile I have to go chuckle now. 180 degrees cam timing change would turn that 454 into a giant vacuum cleaner. Hoes and rakes would disappear up the tailpipe.
