rocker cover not coming off?

i have pulled the plug leads, dizzy cap, torque arm bracket thingy, cam position sensor/housing and loosened all the bolts on the top of the cover but it doesnt want to come off? am i missing something here? is there some sort of special clamp/puller to get it on/off?

You need to clamp down the cover with the tools or it will distort under the valve spring pressure and be ruined.

i assume this is for refitting the cover.. what about taking it off?

no, you need to use the tool while removing otherwise the cover will distort, rendering it useless

Same for taking it off you need to be able to release the cam cover in a controlled manner by using the tools or it will bend. I expect it's stuck with the liquid gasket at the moment. My advice would be to put the bolts back in and get / make the tools. Have you checked that the oil cooler is OK, it's part of the radiator on the LH side looking from the front.

havent checked the cooler tho when i drained the rad the coolant looked brand new (same as it did when i put it in 3k miles ago), not even a hint of oil in it tho there was black in the coolant resivoir tank. i wouldnt think a little coolant mixing into the oil from a naff cooler would cause the engine to go off cylinders/misfire tho. if its stuck with the liquid gasket then thats some serious stuff because i was even trying to lever the cover off and it wouldnt budge. even with the tool to keep pressure on the cover what good is that going to do me if i already have all bolts fully loosened and its not moving in the slightest..

buying a workshop manual may prove to be wise here