Access to the bolts that mount the valve block sucks.. And I'm sure you know thats gonna need to be adjusted once the car is running..
I was just going back over this thread, thinking about what to do and realized what your comment actually said.
The bolts to the valve block are not blocked at all...although I can see how you could think that.
Here is another pic from the top and you can see access to those bolts is fine.
The cross shaft adjustment, well that is another story...but once that adjustment is made it should not need to be touched for awhile. I think that a cut down allen wrench will work for that.
The only spot where the manifold is touching is at the very top of the of the steering box....you can see it righ in the middle of this pic.
it is soooooooo close to clearing.
I am so tempted to shave a little off with my die grinder.