Is valve cover the same from 99 to '04?

[txhokie4life]

need to replace a valve cover on my 04 3.6L engine (drivers side if it matters)

but I have only been able to find one from a '99.

thankx,

M

Edited August 21, 2009 by txhokie4life

[Loren]

No such thing as a valve cover on the M96 engine - I think you mean the cam cover.

The cam covers are different on the 3.4 liter VarioCam engine and the 3.6 liter varioCam Plus engine.

[Dharn55]

The cam covers are different from the 3.4's to the 3.6. Also, you can't just replace the cover, the cover and the head are paired sets as the two are line bored for the cams. The covers act as half of the bearing journals for the cams. At least this is true for a 3.4, I think also for a 3.6.

[txhokie4life]

The cam covers are different from the 3.4's to the 3.6. Also, you can't just replace the cover, the cover and the head are paired sets as the two are line bored for the cams. The covers act as half of the bearing journals for the cams. At least this is true for a 3.4, I think also for a 3.6.

IS it possible to get the new valve cover machines to match the bore of the previous one?

Seems crazy to replace the whole cylinder head for a crack in the cam cover..... (the crack is physical and beyond welding, it got whacked by a suspension piece)

m

[Dharn55]

It might be possible, but you would have to remove the head to line bore it. And the diameter of the bore cannot be made larger so I think it would be very difficult. What year is yours (i.e. a 3,4 or a 3.6). Also what side 1-3/drivers or 4-6/passanger? If it is a 4-6 on a 3.4 there are lots of used heads available, if it is 1-3 they are much harder to find as this is the side that cracks.

[txhokie4life]

It might be possible, but you would have to remove the head to line bore it. And the diameter of the bore cannot be made larger so I think it would be very difficult. What year is yours (i.e. a 3,4 or a 3.6). Also what side 1-3/drivers or 4-6/passanger? If it is a 4-6 on a 3.4 there are lots of used heads available, if it is 1-3 they are much harder to find as this is the side that cracks.

Drivers side part # 1046377r -- engine has <5k miles 3.6L 2004.

mike

[Dharn55]

My experience is with the 3.4 engine with VarioCam, where the cam cover holds the cams in place and special hold down tools are needed to remove the cam cover. I looked in my manual for the 3.6 with VarioCam Plus and the systems/heads are very different. The manual does not show the use of the hold down tools and it looks like there are caps to hold the cams that are seperate from the cover, although it looks like one cap may be built into the cover. Hard to tell exactly from the diagrams in the manual. Maybe there is someone here that has specific experience with the 3.6/VarioCam Plus heads.

When I look at the PET program it still shows the matching cylinder head/cover, and seperate number for the cover alone. I also don't see any caps not part of the cylinder head besides the one set by the sprockets.

Can you post a picture of the damage to the cover. The shop that fixed my cracked head cut out and welded in new material. Maybe they can do the same if the damage dones not include any bearing areas. Otherwise I think you maybe stuck replacing the head. I know a head for a 3.4, with cams etc. lists for about $2,800.

[Dharn55]

Cylinder heads for 3.6 are also about $2800. Check with Sunset or Suncoast for their cost +15% price. Or check some wreckers for used heads.