OHV Valve Cover Replacement

[1BadRS]

My 1991 has leaky valve covers and I'd like to replace them. All the kits I see come with the upper intake gasket as well. So my question is do you HAVE to remove the intake to do the valve covers? Seems like a lot of work to replace something so simple. If so, makes me really appreciate the 2.8 in my other truck.

 

[Shran]

I have always removed it... maybe you could sneak a ratchet under the driver's side of the intake and get it off, I don't know, I haven't tried but that would be the hard one to get off. Passenger side is pretty easy.

 

[racsan]

I don’t recall if it was a “have-to”, many years ago I did my 4.0 valve covers but I also had a bad vacuum leak and pulled the intake in search of it, turned out the gasket between the fuel rail and lower intake had “pulled in” at the front & rear. I still pulled the lower intake to be sure ( after all, I was this far in and had the gaskets ) . Wish there was aftermarket 4.0 valve covers, the steel ones just didnt like to seal on the exhaust side even with new gaskets.

 

[1BadRS]

That is where I'm leaking on both sides. I noticed the valve covers don't have those little wings that spread out the pressure. I've got a set of those from another motor, so those will go in when I put in the new gaskets. Appreciate the advise.

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

It would seem that the Fel-Pro VS50368T gasket set is the best one to use, yes?

 

[19Walt93]

Look it over before you start, a lot of early 4.0's leaked at the intake manifold end gaskets. Might as well fix all the leaks. Felpro is my first choice for gaskets.

 

[SenorNoob]

You can probably get the bolts out without taking intake off, but; it's gonna be might difficult to get the valve cover high enough to snake the new gasket in there without messing it up.

Might just check the torque on the valve cover bolts. Mine like to work loose every couple of oil changes.

Seconded on the lower intake gaskets. Mine were bad. Changed them with the newer style (ask for a 95 gasket set I think), and still have a small leak at the front...