shifting shuts my car off

I dont prefer to keep any of the emissions stuff, i have read about the valve adjustment. to be honest i really dont have much mechanical experiance, mostly just body work. is the valve adjustment somethign i can tackle as a newbie?

ive been wanting to go ahead and take the valve cover off as i found a chrome one from my first 73 duster that never made it on the car.

The AC however works, and is def not coming off with these 100 degree so cal summers haha.

ill have to check the egr valve to, and buy a timing light, haha, i guess realy she just needs a good going through, hopefully ill have a little time this week to do so