I am in serious need of advice on how to remove the driver’s valve cover on a 2006 dodge Dakota 4.7 4x4. I am attempting to change the camshafts to the HO variety.
I was successful in removing the passenger side valve cover.

All bolts on drivers are removed, but for the life of me I cannot clear the brake booster. I ended up destroying the inside of the valve cover and am sourcing a part now..
But in the meantime I have to figure out how to get the cover off. I’ve removed all electrical above the cover, and even the main fuel line to the rail. I also removed the nuts from the brake booster to give it an inch or so of wiggle, but still cannot remove the darn things..

I began to remove the body bolts and try to jack the body up far enough, but fear I’m running into other trouble like brake lines and such. What else is required to lift the body about 2 inches temporarily?

So if you have any advice on valve cove removal, or a body lift (temporary) on this 06 dakota, I would be greatly appreciative… This is my daily driver, and she can’t move at the moment.. I’m in a little deep for a weekend project, and now that I broke the valve cover there is no going back...

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Wouldn't it be easier to just remove the brake booster then raise the body

 

I did finally get the booster out of the way enough..

Drivers valve cover finally off!

Additional steps I had to take to to remove drivers valve cover for a 2006 4.7 4x4 Dakota:
Remove 4 bolts for brake booster (from underneath dash) & clip that attaches booster to the pedal
Remove fuse box main power and two main upper connectors.
Unbolt fuse box cage and shove it far enough up to clear the brake fluid reservoir.
Cut zip ties holding sleeved cable to body, which prevents the last inch of clearance for brake booster to move enough to allow driver’s valve cover to drop down and be removed.


Preparing to remove cover:


Driver’s cam out
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Passenger side cam is next on my list, but I’ve run out of time for now.
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I’ll update in a day or two when I get further. I feel much better about the progress today, I was rather stressed about it last night when one of the covers still hadn’t been removed. .

 

Too bad that you already had the passenger side apart, we could have heard how well the one side runs now vs. the other.

 

Ha! I did wonder how poorly it would run with 1 of each, but not enough to actually try it.

The passenger cover actually came off first, but there wasn't any point until I knew the drivers side was coming off.

Here's to hoping I kept track of every last bolt and connector once it's back together.

 

Valve cover ordered, overnight shipping should allow it to arrive Tuesday.

Passenger H.O. cam and valve cover install will begin later today.

 

Passenger H.O. cam and valve cover installed. I'll get the electrical on that side reconnected tonight, but after that I'm stuck waiting on the driver's side cover which should be in Tuesday.