Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Valves to be set...first timer. easy operation?

[USMCBay]

Going to set my valves. I'm not unfamiliar with doing things myself but is there any foresight I should know about. Are gaskets a given or do I need to prep. Any tips appreciated.

 

[Joe G.]

The gaskets are pretty good so you may get by with the old ones. However, you will need six new o-rings for the valve cover hold down screws. The job is pretty easy for cylinders 1-4. 5-6 are more work because they are under the cowl. If you don't have a grill guard of some sort you may want to put some cardboard or plywood in front of the radiator so you don't damage the AC and transmission coolers while you are working on the rear two cylinders.



A complete discription is at: http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/valve_adj/12_valve.html



You can turn the engine with the alternator nut so you can get by without the barring tool.

 

[shendren]

the 6in-lb wrench is a waste of money. the only hard part is pulling the timing pin. it is in pretty tight. rammin on helped me. just use some needle nose pliers to pull the pin all of the way out and lose that star ring. i put in a new o-ring on the pin and it slides in and out more easy now. i had 70k mi on mine and it really didn't need an adjustment.

 

[Joe G.]

I don't use the timing pin to adjust valves. Valves on a six cylinder in-line engine have "partners". One and six are one of the three partner sets. If both valves are slack on one and tight on six then one is very close to TDC. Conversly if both valves are slack on six and tight on one then six is very close to TDC. This is certainly close enough to do the valves as described in the instuctions on the web site referenced above.