Valve cover gaskets, collapsed lifters too? Exhaust valve?

[free5ty1e]

So, it's become painfully and disgustingly obvious that my valve cover gaskets are leaking directly onto the exhaust in my 1994 SS. This makes ventilation of the cab a problem at speeds below 5mph as oil smoke seeps in.

I've got replacement gaskets & grommets, but wanted to plan a bit more before I went in and did this... I suspect I also may have a collapsed lifter or two, as occasionally when first starting the vehicle I will get several minutes of loud valve tapping / clacking before it quiets down. I've learned this may also be a clue that the oil level may be low but I keep watch over that closely and top it off when needed.

Should I go ahead and purchase a couple spare lifters (and, are they all the same part # in our EJ22t?) to have handy for when I have the valve covers off? Will it be obvious to me which (if any) lifters need replacement, and will I be able to replace them on my own with just the valve covers off?


I also understand I may have a burnt exhaust valve, my friend suspects #3. Would it be worth my while to have a couple EJ22t exhaust valves handy for this operation as well? Or do I have to have the head apart in order to replace a burnt exhaust valve?

Edit: Anything else I should consider replacing while I have my FMIC piping all unclamped and unscrewed apart and my valve covers off...?

Just trying to get my ducks in a row here. Thanks in advance!

[rallyak]

you may need to jack the engine slightly, to slide cover off from there you can press on the rocker to see if the lifter is collapsed. remember to roll engine over so the lifter(valve lash adjuster) is not on the cam lobe . If any are flat (not pumped up) I would replace. As for the exhaust valve the head has to come off

[beatersubi]

The lifters are easy enough to service, if you don't wanna buy new. There is a good how-to write up with visuals around here somewhere.
Lifters don't really wear out, they just get gummed up. If you don't want to hassle with removing/replacing/servicing them, you can run a quart of ATF with your next oil change to flush out the system. Just be sure to change the oil again not too long thereafter.
Heads need to be removed to replace valves.

[Legacy777]

To properly test the lifters, they really need to be out of the car. Testing them in the car is ok, but as you play with them, they will bleed oil, and it makes it more difficult to determine whether they're good or not. When you have the valve covers off, you will be able to get access to the rocker assembly and be able to remove it and get at the lifters.

The head would need to be off for you to do anything with the exhaust valve.