Pulling off the valve covers on my 88 LB9. I removed the AIR pump but could not get one of the black valves off the passenger side. It was a PITA to get he valve covers off even when they appear free to pull out. the wire harness and alternator and AIR valve all bind it up.

any tips on reinstall?

Also the rockers are all black form oil but lots of caked on soot on the head. Should I waste time cleaning them up? Should I run a rod down the oil holes to make sure no debris is in there?

the #8 arm also had some play after I pulled cover., I could shift it from side to side a little with my hand.

it seems ok none of RR seem bent or broke but is there a way to check? Is it safe to just crank all the RR bolts down? For future use: If I pull covers can I just unbolt and swap in new 1.6 RR just by unbolt and torque new ones down? it looks easy now with AIR removed.

 

all my opinion, of course...

1) the valve covers can be a pain with all that stuff in the way - just gotta work it.
2) i would clean the gunk off, but be careful to get it out of there as you clean - anything goes in the pan can be picked up by the pump and it just gets ugly from there.
3) you need to reset your rocker arm, but you have to do it right - not just tighten it down - do a search on adjusting valve lash...
4) you can't normally replace 1.5's with 1.6's and go without machining the heads. 1.6's will change the geometry of the rods and 99% of the time you will not have the clearance already there for 1.6's.

 

Well I got them back on and left rockers alone they worked and sounded fine before I took covers off

Now I am doing fuel line and Leary of piling lines. I have flare nuts loose on bracket at front of intake but bolt is behind lines for bracket and I am fearful if I bend fuel lines back to pull them out of the bracket it is a lot of bending.

It sems the bracket should come off and I can pull out of the fuel lines but it's not