Just make sure you label your wires, hoses, etc. Have several cans of brake cleaner, gasket remover, and a bunch of shop rags. If you're like me and have problems with antifreeze control, have a bag if cat litter handy to dump on the mess. I also put the different bolts/parts for the different systems in ziplock baggies and labeled them. Where possible I put bolts back in the holes where they would go when reinstalled.

There's nothing that's almost impossible to reach, breaks easily, or is attached in a really complicated fashion. It's just time consuming and not difficult.

 

Dude! There are 10 million posts on how to check the plenum gasket. And I'm talking a day. LOL http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/09-05-00.htm

 

I feel like a dumba** askin this but...

What is a pennum gasket?

 

Read the TSB above your post for the answer.

 

Hey guys i was ondering if anyone could help me as well. I no how to do the job and all i just have a question on knowing wether the gasket is blow or not. I looked down the tb and didnt see pooling but more of like an oily residue light brownish color covering the metal surfaces. I also put my hand on the hose that goes from the valve cover to the air cleaner box. As i put my hand there covering it i could feel the increase in vacume. Now do these issues lead anyone to belive the gasket is blown.

 

The TSB that is posted above gives the steps you can use to check for sure. As for the oil pooling, it is usally in the back of the intake due to angle of the engine as it sits in the engine bay. So you really need a mirror and some light to see for sure. Mine didn't look blown until I took the TB off, shown a light in with the mirror, and saw the oil in the back of the intake. I knew for sure then.

 

You can't check it that way without plugging the PCV side.

 

should the belly pan be bone dry? I noticed a thin film of what looked like oil when I looked threw the throttle body.

 

Another tip to tearing into a new project that you may not be all familiar with is to take a ton of pictures on the tear down side and then on the rebuild side refer back to the pictures to ensure correct placement.

J415, I asked the same question a while back and I was told (maybe by Zman) that there should be a little bit in there from the PCV valve working, but not a ton.

 

A light film is normal, but just looking down the TB, without a mirror to look around won't do squat. Which is why there is a test that can be done to specifically ID the prob.