4.0 specialists

[97RangerXLT]

Ok, what do I need to get to replace the valve cover gaskets on my 1997 4.0?

Obviously the valve cover gaskets.

just looking at the engine it looks like I will have to remove the upper intake for this. is the gasket for this reusable?

any other things that I will need to remove? any other things I should look at while I have everything apart?

any idea of cost of the parts?


Thanks!

 

[adsm08]

I don't think you have to pull the intake. You should only need the cover gaskets and some sealer.

 

[97RangerXLT]

I took a closer look at it, and it looks to me like the upper intake has to come off to get to the drivers side valve cover. Passenger side is pretty clear, just have to move some hoses.

looks like there is some exhaust plumbing (egr and whatnot) on the drivers side that might be an issue as well.

AJ

 

[Toms01PSD]

I'd just do valve cover gaskets,intake gaskets, and the egr o-ring will have to be replaced.

 

[trail B2]

Some valve cover kits include the upper intake gasket I was thinking.Look around the web sight though some prefer to just use silicone I haven't been that successful with either.

 

[Angie]

Hi, now that sounds a bit strange needing to take off the intake to redo valve covers.... however, if you do take it off make sure you get a torque wrench and follow the bolt pattern proceedure for replaceing the intake back on. your motor is newer modle than my 91 block, so i can't say for sure if you need to take it off.

 

[Akimbo Rangers]

that 97 is an ohv motor... i would dig a little deeper and possibly replace the lower intake gasket. fel-pro makes a nice one and the job only cost me like $100 total. you would have to
remove valve covers to get the lower off anyway so you might as well replace it.

The 4.0 ohv was prone to having a leaky lower gasket on the front and back side. you just need to put some extra rtv on those parts (a small tube of rtv comes with the gasket.)

to do the entire job all you would need is... lower intake gasket, upper intake gaskests (there are 2. 1 between fuel rail and lower and 1 between fuel rail and upper), and valve cover gaskets

Some say you can reuse the uppers but i wouldnt trust the gaskets on a 13 year old engine to come apart to nicely.

hope this helps.....

 

[97RangerXLT]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Angie, the intake plenum overhangs the drivers side valve cover. with all of the stuff over there, just to get to the bolts it looks like that has to come off. and I do have a torque wrench so we are covered there. with a plastic intake plenum I definitely do not want to over torque those bolts...


Akimbo, I saw the kit you are talking about on O'rielly for about 94 bucks. Not wanting to dig that deep if I don't have to. it looks like I can get the egr gasket, valve cover gasket and upper intake plenum gaskets for about 40 bucks. (and that is the good valve cover gaskets, not the cork) However if it is leaking from that area, I will exchange for the 94 dollar set and go from there.

AJ

 

[adsm08]

Hi, now that sounds a bit strange needing to take off the intake to redo valve covers.... however, if you do take it off make sure you get a torque wrench and follow the bolt pattern proceedure for replaceing the intake back on. your motor is newer modle than my 91 block, so i can't say for sure if you need to take it off.

It's standard to have to pull the intakes on Chevy V6's to do valve covers.

I'm pretty sure that Ford never did that. You might have to wiggle some things, but you shouldn't have to remove the intake.

 

[Kona]

do the intake.....you are most of the way there and when I did mine all 4 water passage parts of the gasket were rotting...they had not let go yet but would have soon. Fuel rail gasket is notorious for going also. If you get the Victor gasket set you will also get fuel injector O rings, good idea to replace those brittle rubber O rings.

 

[97RangerXLT]

It's standard to have to pull the intakes on Chevy V6's to do valve covers.

I'm pretty sure that Ford never did that. You might have to wiggle some things, but you shouldn't have to remove the intake.

When I had my Mercury Grand Marquis (1987) with the 5.0, I had to remove the upper intake to do its valve covers. did not have to remove the lower. it had the same issues that the Ranger has, the upper intake plenum overhangs one side of the engine so that it was impossible to get to the covers on that side.

AJ