How do torque the rods on a D2 pony.

Yes it is a little tricky but I did dozens of them at the dealer and to be easier the top needs to be off & the cam out too helps. It also takes a combination of wrenches to get in there and also the engine needs to be turned in different positions to get the nuts where you can get a wrench on them. Also I used a long extension on the ratchet & swivel head socket to get at a couple of them easier through the bore of one of the cylinders.Also positioning the crank just right is what you need to do so it,s a trial and error method but after you do one or two you learn the knack of it.

I was doing the same thng last night installing piston & rods. The top nut is easy but the bottom rod bolt I had to start the nut by holding it in location with a magnet, and of course when I installed the caps the bottom rod bolt would be the one to push out a little and you can't get to it to push it back in, so I had to turn the bottom nut one little positon at a time until it drew up. I used a small inch/lbs torque wrench and like SJ said, it worked at only just the right spot. When I disassemble the pony engine it didn't have the cotter pins in the rod bolts, I think I'm going to do the same. Did your engine have the cotter pns in it?
I installed new valve's & guides, ground the seats, honed the cylinders, new rings, rod bearings, rebuilt carb. Might have been cheaper to buy a small block chevy and try to bolt it on🙄