Valve cover gasket job and new grill

I was busy this weekend. Finally got around to doing the valve cover gaskets (they have been leaking for some years now). I think I have memorized the Timmy the toolman video by now. Helped tremendously. Also - shout out @Madjik_Man for the awesome writeup on the older 1st gen grill swap. Followed it step by step and it was fairly easy with a nice write up. Just waiting on the corner lights and the trim pieces underneath the headlights. I used an H4 relay harness and used it in conjunction with some Amazon special lights. They are bright, have integrated blinkers in them and work great! My old headlights were so bad it was dangerous to drive at night with them. Plus - I like the look of the early model grill better and always have. I am going to put some LED pods in place of where the stock blinkers were in the bumper for some more light output for now. oh yeah - I also found a silicon hose engine dress up kit and replaced all my old cracked, brittle, hard as a rock vacuum lines. Had to use some hose clamps to clamp them down a little better. Had the high idle re-learn going on and a vacuum leak when it was all put back together but that's all fixed now.

If anyone has an extra noise canceling doo-dad for my intake hose (see my pvc mod lol) I would take it.

 

looks great.

source a 95-97 bumper/valence. It bolts right up and fits the grille lines much better.

 

I will check that out. I am not sure what a valence is but I am sure I will learn soon! One interesting thing about sourcing these parts - the retaining ring for the headlight is about non-existent. Most dealers have them listed as "discontinued" when you look for them. Seems the only option is used or aftermarket. I improvised with some small impromptu shop fabrication for now.

You would need the entire bumper from a 95-97 correct? I am planning on fabrication my own plate bumper with winch trey sometime this next summer so I might wait to do that instead of get another OEM bumper.

 

I was lucky to score those retaining brackets from a part out here.

The valence is the vinyl/plastic part of the bumper assembly. If you get a 95-97 bumper it will all be there.

The only thing you’ll have to do is remove the frame horns at the end of your frame (one bolt per)