First: Yep, there is only three nuts holding down the valve cover. All it is, is a cover so anymore number of bolts is not necessary. There is a rubber gasket around the whole perimeter of the valve cover and around all four of the spark plug holes. Rubber deteriorates over time. I had an oil leakage into one of the spark plug holes before. I took the cover off, pretty anything rubber was pure fragile with the slightest touch versus anything you'd think rubber should be.
Second, obviously you know there are carb sprays and fuel additives to clean the carb. Seafoam works very well, I should add. Anyways, removing the carb is somewhat simple but you shouldn't unless it's actually problematic towards the engines' performance. If you decide to, the black air cleaner box is simple to come off. There should be a hose under it behind the carb that leads to the catalytic converter. Disconnect that and other visible connectors and it should lift off. The cables for the accelerator/ trans is pretty much straightforward. There are several vacuum lines you would need to remember where they go. If you unplug the lines from the carb and leave the other end of the lines attached to whatever they're connected to, the memory in the hoses would make it simpler as to where those lines would go. Then it'll be a matter of not forgetting a hose. With the vacuum lines taken care off, at the base of the carb, there is only 4 bolts. Remove those, the carb should lift off very easily. But keep in mind that if you do remove the carb, don't adjust any knobs, and replace the gasket where the base sits on the intake manifold.
Third, it's a very reliable engine. All I can say is keep up with the basic maintenances and it should serve you for more years and miles you'll ever travel.
Linear Mode
