Distributor noise, tapping noise, now not running!

[suffolkfox]

Background - The Project - TVR 350i with virtually new engine, approx 1994 Defender unit with new 3.9 cam & followers Cloyes timing gear, all ancillaries swapped off existing dead TVR (SD1) engine. Installed and running but not ticking over when cold. Investigation over weekend result swapped coolant temperature sensor, adjusted throttle plate to 2 thou and lowered tickover speed. All seemed OK again, but noticed how noisy the distributor was getting (whirring and slight tapping sound when first installed in new setup and now getting louder)

This morning will not keep running. Starts OK and revs up, then after about 15 seconds revs fall and the engine stalls, almost as if the ECU is shutting it down. Also the noise from the dizzy is very noticeable and the tap now sounds like a dead follower but too far forward.

Q's
Is it possible the dizzy is not correctly aligned with the drive (noises?)
Is the fact I have put an old (70,000 mile) dizzy on a new engine creating a problem?
As the followers are new is it likely that one could be faulty (only done 350 miles since build)?
Anything I should check based on the symptoms?

Frustration setting in, so may be off to the local specialist if unable to work it out. Cheers all