Leaking valve covers

[Dav]

There is a very noticable height difference between the head and intake on my 89 2.9. It leaks oil. I changed the gasket several years ago and was good for about a year. Truck doesn't see much use so I lived with it.
Now the truck is about to become my only vehicle. The motor is out and I am doing other stuff to it so now's the time to fix it.
Any surefire cures besides have the gasket surface on the head cut down to match the intake?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Are you asking about valve cover gaskets?
Or intake gaskets?

 

[Shran]

Have your heads been machined down at some point? Generally this is fixed by machining the intake, not the heads.

Before you go that route though, I would suggest checking bolt torque on all of the lower intake bolts. If it was removed & reinstalled at some point, and not retorqued, it may simply not be fully seated. I have found lots of loose lower intake bolts on 2.9's and 4.0's over the years.

Another question is what type of valve cover gaskets are you using? Cork, rubber, permadry? They all need a dab of RTV in two spots per side where the intake meets the heads. If it's way off and you want to fix it on a budget, use a big blob there and lightly push a gasket onto it and let it cure without reinstalling the valve cover. Once it's dry, put the valve covers back on. That way it's built up enough to fill in a gap that exists there.

I am on the fence on gasket types. I like the Permadry concept but I keep having valve cover bolts loosen up and they start leaking. Rubber may start to be my preference. Cork is good too but it gets crispy and brittle quicker than others.

 

[Dav]

Ok, Let me clarify; I said 1989 but it gets complicated. I have an 88 Ranger w/ a 2.9. Near as I can tell, it is the original motor. Still had the factory lifting bracket on the driver side exhaust manifold and the paint on it has no scratches on from chains or cables. I changed the valve cover gaskets about 9 years ago. Truck doesn't get much use.
Knowing about the problems with the 88 and older heads, I bought an 89 for the heads. It has been in the yard waiting for the need to rebuild.
That time is here.
I took it apart. Heads went to shop for valve job but 1 is cracked.
Bought another motor, told it is a '90. Thinking now is the time to change the valve cover gaskets, I opened it and find that the intake is lower than the head by about the thickness of a piece of shirt cardboard.
STOP THE PRESSES!!
Just went out to measure how much difference and looked at the other side of the motor: it's higher than the head; the intake is cockeyed. WDF? Not knowing the history of this motor, I can only guess that a previous 'mechanic' was in a hurry or at the bottom of the learning curve.
I had hopes of a fast motor swap but that has gone out the window. So now I will pull the intake and put in a new gasket and make sure it is centered right.
Thanks for the input anyway.