I've been putting off taking my 1986e right valve cover off and repainting,did the left a month ago,from everything I've read and heard,this one was going to be no fun.So I allocated the whole day last Friday to do it.That nastey EGR pipe was going to be the big issue.For the last week I've sprayed a little penatrating oil on the bolts,but I still knew I would have to deal with that crimped connector on the manifold.So I tied back the fuel injector harness with some string to hold it out of the way,got the two bolts that hold the EGR pipe off no problem.The EGR sensor came off easily,well,not that easy,because I changed it not long ago,the weatherpack connector is buried behind the distributor.Removed the four valve cover nuts,cut all the old foil off the EGR pipe.Preparing to decrimp it at the exhaust manifold,I decided to gently,and I mean gently,rotate it and bend it up,it is flexable to some extent.Next ,I removed the hose from the heater lines to the intake manifold,and one hose on the AIR switching valve.I did not unbolt the AC compressor.I bent back the spark plug wire bracket on the rear of the head a little,pulled the cover up and back,then forward,out she came!And after stripping and painting she went back on just as easily.Assembly is reverse as disassembly!As for the aluminum heat tape OSH sells 3M high heat aluminum duct tape for $6.00 good for up to 600*f ,I doubt temps will exceed that,and it sure looks better than that old winkled foil.
Well,thats my story,I hope this can help someone out there.
Be safe.

 

I did that ONCE, and then i permanently removed the EGR

 

Whenever something goes that easy it makes me wonder what did I do wrong.

 

What no pics?
I am going to do this too.
Here's a pic of the dist. cover.(I did this to test the color)
--BEFORE--

AND--AFTER--

And, I'm going to do the intake/runners/ac pump/alt. bracket/valve covers very soon. Its gonna look so good. I can't wait.