1997 Legacy Outback Valve cover gaskets issue

[1cor6.nine-11]

Hi, the back of the passenger side timing cover wraps around the valve covers a little, seemingly making it impossible to scrape the mating surface of the head clean (I thinks it's the stock DOHC 2.5).

If I need to move the timing cover, how do I do it? I took the front cover off but found no way to move the back cover.

If there is a better way to clean the head mating surface please let me know.  Thanks in advance.

Link to a video of the problem

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UPDATE - I just wiped them good and clean with a rag and denatured alcohol; I don't imagine scraping would've been a good idea with aluminum, might ding it (unless the scraper was plastic).



  Edited November 27, 2015 by 1cor6.nine-11