....and I have the sore back to prove it. I like working out of a van versus a pickup, but working on the engine is a bear. My valve cover gaskets were leaking bad. I figured while they were off I might as well change the valve stem seals since it smokes a little at times. Well I got the easy half done. The left side is "easy" to get to compared to the right side. It's a 5.8L and the upper plenum has to come off the manifold to get the valve cover off. I spent about 8 hours doing the one side. I am sore all over. You have to stay bent over and stretched out to reach into the engine compartment from inside the van. I'm not looking forward to doing the other side but it will have to wait a few weeks before I can get to it.
I feel for ya, I remember all to well the pain of working on a van engine.....so much so I farm it out now if it needs to be done, or say screw it and keep it as a driving/running shed
yup they can be a real pain , but some times taken the front seats out make it easyer you will have more room to move and streach
I've heard of guys going in through the front to get at stuff.... - Remove bumper - Remove Fenders - Remove grill - Remove A/C condenser - Remove radiator - Remove radiator support Work on engine............. Then put everything back.
I thought about doing that and may do that when I do the passenger side. If I had to pull the heads I might go through all that trouble but that is a lot of extra work.
