To get the Freeze Plugs out, take a flat tipped chisel and a hammer. Put the chisel on the inner edge of the plug and tap it in towards the coolant jacket. You may need to whack it pretty good depending on what he used to seal it. When it breaks loose and the bottom goes in, The top will come out. Grab that part with vise grips and pull it out of the block.
Crank bolt is counter clockwise to remove it. It is torqued to like 160 ft lbs so you will need to stop the crank from rotating or use an Impact. If he put locktite on it it may be a b*tch to get free. Put two flexplate bolts in the rear of the crank so you can wedge a pry bar between them and your engine stand to stop the crank from moving.
The block and heads need to be very clean. After mine came back from the machine shop, it was clean but I washed it again with brake clean and again with laquer thinner. I only paint the Non Machined cast pieces and the bottom of the valley pan. I am almost done with the Glyptal now. I need to finish painting my heads so I will have quite a bit left. More the a half a can.
I will post pics of the tools needed in a bit. I wish we were closer, I would come help you out.
