[john walker's workshop]

if the air pump line interferes with getting the oil line out of the way, it would have to go. most folks remove the whole works and plug the holes in the heads with 1/8" pipe plugs. if you need to keep the system, maybe remove just the offending section and plug that one hole.
grab the lip with visegrips and start the bend, then hammer it flat to clear the spring. just the area where the spring needs to go. done tons of them and never split one yet.