I started to dismantle the engine, really dirty inside:


Are these the original gaskets? Cylinderhead gaskets are fully metal, the intake manifold also has a metal part in the middle. Completely different from the new ones I got from Best Gastkets. Looks to me like this engine has never been opened so far... Or what does the experts say?
Valve train sort box (c) by Amazon package

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I discorvered that about half of the valvelifters have no more shock absorbing function, so I think i will replace them completely. Just saw they are available again on RockAuto
While all this work was really dirty, I had the need to do something beautiful too, so I cleaned, sanded and painted the intake manifold:


Today's two questions:
- I discovered that if I turn the crankshaft, the camshaft starts to move only after the camshaft has already turned approx 5 dgrees. This isn't normal I think, could be a worn out timing chain or loose timing gear, right? I Haven't opened the timing cover yet.
- How do I pull off these two bolts without destroying anything???:
I need to remove this middle cover to get the middle valvelifters out.