My Dakota is getting close to being on the road. Once I have it debugged, I'm going to tear into my Ram 1500 with the 5.9 for a major tune up.It's a '96 and is running okay as long as it isn't under load. About a quart every 500-600 miles. Under load, a quart every 75-100 miles.

I'm collecting parts so once I get into it, there won't be any waiting on parts. Most of what I need is available locally so there shouldn't be a problem. I'll be pulling the intake and while I'm at it, I'll replace all the hoses, the timing chain and give the cooling system a good flush. Cap, rotor, plugs and wires while I'm at it.

I thought Summit Racing had the Hugh's Plenum repair kit but I can't find it on their site. Anybody have a source for it? I only intend to do this one time.

The plenum repair kit is available here - https://hughesengines.com/

I went there but it just said "restocking". Clicking the link at the site for the better Felpro based kit comes up with an empty page. That's probably why it's not on the Summit link, they are out of stock too. I'm not in a rush, but I want to do everything at one time. I can't use my RAM for towing due to the excessive oil usage. I believe in Benjamin Franklin's admonition to "Fart Proudly". In other words, if you're going to do something, do it right.

I've found that lots of items are out of stock these days. I'd contact Hughes directly by phone to see when they will get their plenum kit back in stock.

Look on ebay, There are others who make the plate.

The only thing not "stock" is the plate. I'd source a plate and just buy everything else from your favorite supplier:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/145034244191/

Out of stock. I called a friend who has a fabrication shop. He said if I can get a pattern, he can cut me a plate from aluminum plate. I'll see what kind of gaskets I can get and there might be a sheet gasket that will work.

You should be able to use the existing steel plenum plate as your 'pattern' for the fabrication folks or create one from the stock plate by tracing it out on some cardboard....

Use the fel-pro gasket for the penum. It actually seals, and stays sealed. If you don't wanna spring for the plate.... (which, so far as I am concerned isn't really necessary) just use shorter bolts on the plate. Or, nip the tips off the stock fellers.

There was a kid here -- or somewhere on the big interweb -- who did this. He just cut it out in like woodworking class I think. Something like that.

With a bit of care, should work fine.