I do agree with the covers. Not difficult to do.
Just another pic of my black engine, with the geared valve train. I just cleaned up the connecting rod. Attached is a photo. As you can tell, it is very solid. Both ends have bearing adjustments. The flywheel end has a very odd screw mechanism that moves a wedge up and down, forcing the bearing to tighten up against the journal.
The other end has a wedge "pin" that you tap down to tighten up the bearing. I have never seen either before.
Gene