Be sure to get the right shop manual. If the engine is out of a car, get the car shop manual, or at least the engine section. Check the Old Chevy Manual Project for free online images.
One trick I use when I disassemble anything is to screw the fasteners back into whatever they came out of. This way you can keep up with everything. If you have to take all the fasteners out of the block because you are having work done on it, bag up everything by component (head, manifold, pan, etc) and throw a tag in the bags saying what it is. Write the label with a sharpie so it won't fade or smear. I tag everything I take off (carb, distributor, lifter cover,etc) with the date and what it is from. Go to a stationary store and get a box of manila tags, the type with a string.
If you are going to reuse your lifters and cam, BE SURE TO keep up with the order so you can put them back in the same hole. Keep track of your pushrods too. You could bag each one with a tag and number them 1 thru 12.
Good luck!
Kurt
