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jpconard
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2007
20:49:36

Subject: Valve cover gasket replacement
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Has anybody replaced the valve cover gaskets? Mine seem to be weeping a little oil. They don't look too bad to get at. I'm thinking of the next spark plug change to do this since I'd have the top hat and stuff off.

Any tips would be appreciated. How long it took, problems, etc.



Kowalski
GenIII
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2/25/2007
07:52:29

RE: Valve cover gasket replacement
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This will differ depending on what engine you have.

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Ryan
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2007
21:57:33

RE: Valve cover gasket replacement
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I actually just did this today on my 1997 with a 5.2L, it took me about 2 hours but that's just because i repainted the valve covers at the same time. the only thing you might have to look out for is the alternator, i had to loosen mine and move it about an inch so that i could get to one of the bolts.



jpconard
Dodge Dakota
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2/27/2007
20:43:44

RE: Valve cover gasket replacement
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Mine is the 4.7, from what I can see it doesn't look hard to get at. I'll probably do this summer when I do the spark plugs again.
Still looking for feedback from anybody who has done on 4.7...What to watch for, how long it took, how difficult, etc.



Kowalski
GenIII
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2/28/2007
07:27:14

RE: Valve cover gasket replacement
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The 4.7 is very different from the 5.2. It's valve covers feature a re-sealable rubber gasket; so you might be able to just tighten them down a bit to get rid of your leak. I had mine off to put in the HO cams, and the valve cover R&R is really the hardest part of that project. There is quite a bit in the way. Loosening the master cylinder and the AC condenser helps, also the heater hoses that are clamped where they pass over the intake manifold. Even at that, the passenger side can be tricky to remove; try to remember how you turn it to get it free for when you go to put it back on. Plan for this to take a little while, you have to raise them high enough to clear the valve train. A cam upgrade is a great mod for a 4.7, in case you might want to do that while the cams are exposed. I reused the original gaskets with no leaks.

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Tom F
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2018
13:12:11

RE: Valve cover gasket replacement
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When I took off the driver side valve cover, I saw that it had a
rubber gasket. I most likely could have stopped the leaking by
tightening the bolts. I did that for the other side. One tip, it is
almost impossible to get the gasket aligned and get the cover
back on. The rubber gasket slips all over. I cut 10 1 1/2 inch
pieces of dowel, dropped them in the bolt holes with about 1/2
inch protruding. I mounted the gasket over the dowels and put
the cover on. I pulled out the dowels, one at a time and
replaced each one with a bolt.



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