John,
Re 1: Can't happen, the valves stay closed. Furhermore, following the suspenders and belt priciple, I also blocked off the manifold passages to the dead cylinders. The balance tube is still open.

Re 2: Nah. I have only so much sophistication in me. Not enough to spare for this slap-dash project. I'm saving it all for when I build the next engine for the 142E. ;-) Actually, when the thing ran it was amazingly smooth.

Re EDIT: Pushrods and lifters were out. I hung the pushrods back in with welded-on tabs to keep them from disappearing into the crankcase, and held them in place with bolts through the adjustment screw holes in the rocker arms - there was more oil spraying up through the empty push rod holes than could flow down again; more than the valve cover seal could stop.
Bob S.