So thanks to everyone's help, I got my engine in successfully, and got her started up. First problem, distributor was 180 out and caused backfiring through the throttle body. Didn't realize that until several cranks later. after that she started up, but ran very rough. Trying to break in the cam i had to bring it up to 2500 rpms. the whole time i tried to increase it fought me, and i didnt like it. so i shut it off. didnt have any idea as to why, thought it might be high compression. so i started it up again. same thing. this time when i shut it down it died down and then froze to a stop. the next day it wont crank whatsoever. i can, however, back up the engine with the flywheel manually, but it never goes beyond a certain point in normal cranking. I probably had the engine running a total of 3 minutes total.

Here is what i am thinking. i have hydraulic lifters, and didn't fill them with oil prior to installing them other than pre-lube. so when i installed the push rods and set the valve lash i did so by the pressure method. when the rod no longer turned easily by hand then i tightened 1/4 turn. however the push rod might continue to spin as it pushed down on the lifter. I am thinking i bent a push rod.

I havent taken the valve cover off yet to see, so what is the chance that i might have ruined my camshaft? that is my main worry now, or valves.