Gotta clean it before I take it any further so I dont get dirt on the valve train and internals.
I would not sweat that as you will be cleaning EVERYTHING clean from head to toe & on the valve train slide hammering a core plug out on one end of the shaft then driving out the other one. keep the rockers in order (if reusing em). You mentioned someone in Bend Oregon purcasing a lot of Imperials, I'm wondering if it is the Cab character? I would put it past him
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
