Finally got to do the valve cover gaskets and then installed the upper intake O-rings.
Here is the driver side cylinder head with the valve cover off. There was some sludge in there but everything else looked ok.
I removed the valve cover without separating the fuel line, it was a pain, but it was possible. I had to unbolt the fuel line retaining bracket from the cylinder head. That bracket only has one 8mm bolt, but it is a pain to get to. Then trying to keep the valve cover gasket from falling off when you are reinstalling the valve cover proved to be a pain as well.
The valve cover bolts have sleeves on them that go through the cover, and you push the gasket over those sleeves to keep the gasket in place. It's very tedious and time consuming. I did make a video of installing the valve covers and gaskets (when I did the junkyard engine build) on my YouTube channel (ShortedToGround Racing) if anyone wanted to see how the valve cover bolt sleeves hold the gaskets in place. The name of the video is "Junkyard Engine Build - Installing the Valve Cover Gaskets".
I was glad to see the timing chain guides were not broken on the driver side. They are old but still intact.
I used some bungie cords to hold things out of the way on the passenger side, so I didn't have to open the cooling system.
It was still difficult to get the valve cover off and back on, but it was possible without opening the cooling system.
I was really glad to see the driver side timing chain guide was not broken either! The driver side requires the engine and transmission to be separated to get to the lower bolt that holds the guide on. So glad I don't have to pull the engine or transmission yet, I want to drive it for a while before having to do anything labor intensive like that.
After installing both valve covers with the new gaskets, I installed a new transmission dipstick tube that came with the vehicle.
The old tube was rotted away like most of them. I do keep one in stock at my house now, they only last so many years before they rot out.
Last but not least, I installed the upper intake O-rings when putting it back together.
The new ones were a bit thicker of course. They sealed up nice and the truck runs much better. No more check engine light, and no more lean condition that was worse when it was cold out. Now I can drive it more often.