Bought a battery today so I can check the electrical. The break in oil along with a new filter and another batch of oil to do the first change is on order. I need to pick up some fuel too.

What should I double (triple) check before I drop this car on the ground and start it up?

Crank it by hand to make sure nothing is binding & everything still moves freely! Of course you've probably done that already. Just seen misc issues with pressure plate/ clutch things that cause it to bind up. Then cross your fingers man . Oh don't forget the video camera. We all want to see it fire up

If you haven't yet installed the spark plugs, crank it till you see oil pressure before you actually fire it up. If the plugs are installed, disconnect the coil wire and crank it to make sure have oil pressure. You remembered to add oil right. I think you said that already. Wrench check EVERYTHING again.

Roll it out of the garage and have a fire extiguisher near by.

Hell almost forgot. You have insurance right?

Get a mirror and look in the fan for foreign objects.

Those fancy "racing/reduced-weight" fans are the result of cranking an engine after something fell in the fan :-) like a screwdriver.....

Its off the stand and on the ground.

Click to view attachment

turn on the fuel pump and wait until it stops then check for leaks, I wrapped my fuel lines so if they leak they at least wont spray on the headers and check your distributor bolt is tight before you crank it over..good luck
MikeC