I did the Hughes plenum repair kit on my '98 Ram 1500 5.2. Might have gotten a bit liberal with the blue threadlock on a few of the bolts and it might have slipped in between the gasket and aluminum pan. Hopefully that won't cause a problem later. Otherwise, pretty basic repair, just take your time because we took apart that accessory bracket about 3 times, finding bolts we missed lol.

 

Been having problems with burning oil and missing that wouldnt go away. Did some reading and figured it had to be the plenum gasket. Tore it apart today and sure enough. Here is a pic of what i found. Hoping to get it back together tonight. Using the Hughes Engines plenum plate and gasket kit. Also doing a new water pump while its tore down that far. And possibly an electric fan to hopefully help a little with keeping cool.

 

95cifxdbi, could you tell if your old bent plenum gasket had a metal part in the middle to make it harder or it is just flex material?
DJ

 

It was just paper/cardboard type gasket material. No steel shim/spacer.

 

What's the best plenum gasket to buy?

 

The fel-pro. It's basically paper, with a rubber? line on it. Seals good, stays sealed. Don't forget the loc-tite on the bolts though.

 

1996 5.9 Magnum - blew head gasket about 1 year ago - did plenum gasket (not plate) at the same time as it was burning some oil. Good for a few thousand miles and then a blue smoke issue developed. When you start it cold or hot, no smoke. Then a HUGE cloud of blue smoke (Like people run away and give me the finger) when you start driving and the revs get high - once it warms up - no blue smoke. I was going in to do plenum plate job just wanted to know if there was anything else. Not valve seals - no blue smoke on start - Not rings (maybe) as goes away when hot. Also it runs great - slight rpm fluctuation at idle - sometimes.

 

Peek down into your intake manifold, and see if you see any oil pooling there......

Check the PCV valve as well. If it's old, just replace it. Get one from the dealer, they are actually the correct flow rate.....

Welcome to DF!

 

Just gathering up parts for fixing my plenum. I thought that I wouldnt mess with my timing chain cuz of only having 71000 miles on her, but a wise man talked me into doing it . After all "its only 8 bolts away" He said........

What type or make of double roller timing chain would you suggest?

 

Cloyes C3028X DRTS... got mine for less than $40.