Well, with the paint shop appointment rapidly approaching on Wednesday, I decided to finally bite the bullet and fix the tap at startup, as well as install the MMR IMRC delete plates I've had sitting around for a while. I spent around 6 hours today, and I'm on the home stretch. Every secondary valve was disgusting, absolutely caked with carbon. On top of that, almost every lash adjuster that I pulled out had a bit of free play in it. Not like the springy feeling of the new adjusters, but slop of around 1/8th of an inch, with a dull thunk every time you moved the piston. A bonus surprise was that one of Cyl 8's exhaust valves had kicked it's follower. Who knows when, and who knows how. But I'm super pumped that it landed at the bottom of the head and any major damage was completely avoided. I'll post some photos mid-process, as well as some before and afters of the secondary valves. This is extremely tedious work, but I'd rather drop a socket on the sun baked fenders now instead of after it gets back from paint. If anyone wants some pointers/tips and tricks, feel free to post away. I'm all for making the next guy's life easier if they approach this same task.
Primary Intake Port
Secondary Intake Port prior to cleaning
Secondary Intake Port after cleaning
Primary Intake Port
Secondary Intake Port prior to cleaning
Secondary Intake Port after cleaning