Valve adjustment weirdness, valve adjustment Options

[Java2570]

Ok, I'm a newbie with a 1974 914 2.0L. I am replacing my heat exchangers and exhaust this week and while I have them off, I figure I'd adjust the valves while
I've got extra room to do so. So.... I spent time finding TDC notch on my flywheel and scribed a mark corresponding on the bottom viewing window of the trans.
I also have a red paint mark that was made on the fan that lines up with this as well.
When I go to adjust valves on #1, they are very tight and can't even get a feeler gauge into it to adjust. Then when I try to loosen the screw, it is making no difference in the looseness of the adjustment. What is happening here? Am I making some stupid mistake or is there something wacky going on? I've adjusted valves before on Karmann Ghias so I know how to do the adjustment basically. Also, the nuts are not
13 mm, they are 14 mm on this engine. I know the engine is from a 1975 car but I'm
not sure if the rocker arms were replaced or not......confused.
Am I doing something wrong here? Thanks!

[Java2570]

Thanks everyone, I got it done! I see what you mean now by not having to see both sides of the engine at once....thanks SLITS.
Dave - I'd never seen that about the later cars going to the 14 mm nuts.....now I know! At least I learned some things in process.

Unfortunately, the job I was intended to achieve today, heat exchangers and new
Bursch exhaust, did not work out as planned. The SS heat exchangers I got don't
quite line up with the studs and I couldn't get either of them to seat up into the proper position. I guess I'll have to have them done at a shop that can deal with some bending of metal as I don't have the proper tools to do so to get them to fit right. They
are just slightly off. I put my old rusted HE's back on and I think I either made them leak worse in the process or I didn't get them seated as tight on the exhaust ports as I need them because it's twice as loud now.....not sure where it's leaking at but I'm guessing it is where they are bolted to the studs. I did use the copper rings; perhaps I didn't torque them enough? I don't want to break any studs in the process of tightening them. I think I need a beer now!

[messix]

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