HELP: Taking Q-Jet Apart

[PHOENIX]

I am still working on this problem.

Carb: Edelbrock Q-Jet 1904
I am having trouble removing the accelerator pump rod ("D") and the choke plate rod ("E").
I want to take apart as little as possible, so I stopped right here.
How do I get these parts ("D" & "E") off so I can remove the top (air horn?).
Do I need to remove "Z" to get the top off?

What is "X" and "Y"?
Do they look normal?
They are caked up pretty well.

Thanks.