I took my 86 into a mechanic friend of mine. I bought two new aluminum valve covers to be put on. The mechanic replaced the driver side. But he could not figure out how to replace the passanger side because of the "EGR?" and other things blocking the way. How much work is actually necessary to remove the valve cover?

 

Me and my friend replaced mine with some chrome ones. I dont recall having to remove it. It was a real pain though trying to squeeze it all out.[&:]

 

He is referring to the EGR tube that comes from the exhaust manifold and loops over the top of the valve cover. The tube is semi flexible or if it is not, you have to remove the exhaust manifold. I modified mine like an 87 and up where it has a flange on both tubes that bolts together for that purpose.