Thanks, I got it out by turning it loose with a long screwdriver and reaching behind the gear with a 1/2" strip of .030 steel bent at the end.

I hand rotated the hex shaft and I can hear it pulling oil. After dinner I'll have a helper to prime while I turn the crank around and back to TDC - two full 360 rotations to bring me back to the the same firing position, right? Yeah, I marked the orientation of the slot, rotor and distrib housing before removal, so I can check alignment when I put it all back in.

And wouldn't you know I found a coolant leak from one of the exhaust manifold studs. But that'll be tomorrow's thread.
Thanks again guys.

65 Satellite hardtop 361/4bbl console 727 2.76
67 Satellite convert 383/2bbl column 727 3.23
67 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato. Alloy body, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd
67 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3. Alloy panel, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd
71 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300 Zagato, 1.3L 4cyl DOHC hemi 5-spd
82 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5L SOHC hemi V6 5-spd transaxle
75 Maserati Bora US spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF
77 Maserati Khamsin Euro spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF
07 Aston Martin DB9 6.0L DOHC V12 6spd transaxle