alright. i am not going to send my rods or rockers (or their nuts) to the machine shop. what can i clean them with? how can i tell if the rods are straight? just roll them? also, what can i clean the outside of my valve covers with, that won't damage the aluminum or stickers?
I assme you're talking about the pushrods, if so then just roll them across a piece of glass to see if they're straight. If you're worried about the stickers on the valve covers, then just use hot soapy water. Otherwise SOS or brillo pads will clean em and shine em. Clean the push rods and rockers with gas.