I just picked up the scout 2 service manual and this thing is pretty bad. Im having some lifter problems and im going to change them out. This is the first time ive taken off my valve cover, this looks different then most setups ive seen of a valve train. Just want to make sure, do I take off the 8 or so bolt off what looks like some sort of rod with all the rocker arms connected to it?? I dont want to mess this up!! The scout 2 service manual is pretty bad and I want to make sure I do do this right. Trying to change out my lifters and cam do do a knocking coming from the top end

You should go here and ask. There's much more you'll want to know but won't find it here.

http://www.binderbulletin.org/forums/index.php

Chances are the reason the lifters are ticking there is no oil getting up to the lifters due to a spun cam bearing blocking the oil passage , this is a common problem with I-H V-8 gas engines . Usually it is the back cam bearing . Drop the oil pan see if you can find any cam bearing material in it , also look up at the cam and see if any of the bearing are coming out .
I had two 304 s and one 345 that had ticking lifters and all three turned out to be bad cam bearings .