Just read your post and hate to see this set back. (Should put a squirrel powered decal on scoop). But how did the squirrel get in the oil pan? Was the timing cover off or something else left off for a while? That looks like it has been there for a while with the rust on the pan.
Hope you get it going soon. [/quote]

I had the intake off, and 2 cloth type fender covers over the valley. They ate through them and used the material for a nest. Since there weren't any lifters in it yet, I guess they did their thing and shimmied down around the camshaft and into the bottom end. My Milodon pan has a solid windage tray on it which became their bedroom floor. I pulled enough stuffing out to fill a bed pillow. A lot was behind #4 piston, rest in the pan.

The first one chugs a beer and says....