I replaced the firewall-side valve cover this weekend to fix an oil leak. I tried to fix this leak last weekend but when putting in new felpro seals for the vvt solenoids, the valve cover cracked. ![:forehead:]( "Smack Forehead")
Thus, the replacement valve cover.
The interesting info:
I ordered an OEM replacement valve cover from Ford, part number BR3Z-6582-V. $115 shipped, and it included all seals pre-installed, new hardware, and a new PCV. This supposedly is the latest revision for the 3.5 Cyclone TIVET engine and the Flex is listed as one of the models it's for. Everything looked good and went smoothly until I was re-installing the upper intake (which has to come off to access the firewall-side valve cover). The new PCV sits too high and interferes with the upper intake.![:forehead:]( "Smack Forehead")
I opted to use a pipe cutter to cut about half inch off of the top of the PCV and then sanded down the lip that was supposed to be a stop for the bottom of the hose it receives, such that the hose can slide down further on the now-shorter PCV. This was not a ton of fun, but seems to have worked.
In short, a new valve cover with all of the seals installed isn't too much more expensive than a felpro gasket set. If though you go with BR3Z-6582-V, be prepared to deal with the PCV being too tall.
Thus, the replacement valve cover.The interesting info:
I ordered an OEM replacement valve cover from Ford, part number BR3Z-6582-V. $115 shipped, and it included all seals pre-installed, new hardware, and a new PCV. This supposedly is the latest revision for the 3.5 Cyclone TIVET engine and the Flex is listed as one of the models it's for. Everything looked good and went smoothly until I was re-installing the upper intake (which has to come off to access the firewall-side valve cover). The new PCV sits too high and interferes with the upper intake.
I opted to use a pipe cutter to cut about half inch off of the top of the PCV and then sanded down the lip that was supposed to be a stop for the bottom of the hose it receives, such that the hose can slide down further on the now-shorter PCV. This was not a ton of fun, but seems to have worked.
In short, a new valve cover with all of the seals installed isn't too much more expensive than a felpro gasket set. If though you go with BR3Z-6582-V, be prepared to deal with the PCV being too tall.