I'm gonna hunt down a factory 1989 service manual but since I'm needing a valvecover, amongst other gasket changings, Anyone got tips for a novice DIY?... Pics would be great. I find the Chilton manual just a bit too vague for someone like me who probably is lacking some tool(s) as well.
Bill

 

best thing i can say is just jump in. take notes on where stuff is/take pictures while you are doing it. It's really pretty easy to remember where things go.
valve covers should just be 4 bolts they are t-15 or t-20 torix bits. the bits themselves look like stars. go pick up a set at sears. get craftsman or some brand that is free replacement as its easy to break torix bits espically when you start to take off the intake manifold like you may get into later on.
anyways. remove your spark plug wires from your spark plugs and lay them on the tpi plenum. do not remove them from the rotor as you will probably forget where they go and it can be a pain the first time you mess with that. take the 4 bolts out and try to lift off the valve cover. see what is in the way. (probably gonna be your aircondinitoer compressor). no biggey. loosen and remove the belt then find what bolts you need to remove to take loosen the ac to let it twist out of the way. same with the alternator. I find that the wires running above the valve cover can be pushed up and away.
the hardest part is putting the valve covers back on. the gasket goes into the valve cover but doesn't stay all that well. be paitent and be prepared to spend more than one day on it. if you get frustrated walk away so you don't end up breaking something.

 

The problem is the hoses and vaccuum lines concealing the engine itself, I know they say to drain coolant, what else do I need to worry about? I'm an apartment renter and there's some concern about leaking too much liquid on 'their' ground. Right now it's still pretty cold too so I'll be just trying to get some gaskets for the repair... Got advice on rubber Felpros so I'll be asking around on those
Bill

 

get a bucket and a spillpan. spillpan looks like a big cookie sheet.
to drain the coolant jack the car up and on the bottom of the radiator on the passenger side faceing the passenger seat is the drain plug. slowly turn it until the fluid starts to leak out. turn it a little more to there there is a stream and put the bucket under that. don't remove it all the way though unless you want a big gush of water. this will let you drain a little coolant to get it out of the hoses up top but not have to remove all of it.
get the valvecover gaskets at oriellys or autozone. they will have them.

 

If you are going to drain the coolant to remove a valve cover you need to get a different book. It's not necessary, if I misunderstood what you're doing, never mind.

 

the heater control valve sits over the valve cover on some cars. this is what has to be undone/moved to take the valve cover off. i have added a longer hose to that it sits closer to the wheel well to not have to mess with it if i have to take the valve covers off.