So a fairly minor update with too many details, consider yourself warned. We modified the firewall today to take care of the clearance issue with the valve covers. I had considered moving the engine forward instead but realized this morning I would have to disassemble the front suspension to be able to move the lower engine perch bolts. More than I wanted.
Since Don has the same issue with his valve covers I decided to post more photos than normal.
At first we tried to just cut a "T" and bend back the firewall to create a pocket.
The "T" cut would not bend out easily so we made it an "I" cut
As you can see we were able to create enough clearance with the valve covers
One thing we learned after cutting both sides is we went to short on the vertical cut and had to cut again. Will be more welding when we pull the cab off and get to it but am just needed the extra space. We did round the outside of the cuts so that when we do weld it it will be more of a semi-circle.