Thanks again for this post! The pictures were really helpful. I had the same issue. I was fearful that I might be getting in over my head when tearing it all down, as I was scared to death that it might leak when put back together.
I just took my time, and i did take the extra step of putting a paper thin layer of permatex around each water port only before bolting it down.
No leaks and its been a week!

 

Thanks for all of the detail and pics! 6 months after replacing the radiator, transmission cooler and thermostat, my son's top heater hose just blew. Removing/replacing all of that is over my skill level but at least I know the $$$ he'll be spending is required. Lotta labor...

 

$400 isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Trying to decide if I should do this myself or not.

 

Any updates on your LIM repair? I'm sitting at 234k miles and I think my time has come. Coolant was roughly 1gal low the other day and there's plenty of indicators around the motor that I need to replace some gaskets. If I'm using the part number you listed (68003427AB, updated to 68003427AC), it looks like I'll have valve cover gaskets included and those guys are a source of oil leakage for me. It was inner axle seals and brakes turned u-joints this past weekend....what's next?

 

I haven't had any problems with leaks since replacing my LIM. That all went well. It's looking like I may have to do a lot of that tear down work again of pulling off the upper manifold. Pretty certain at this point, my engine misfire is due to a bad fuel injector and to replace those you need to pull the upper manifold off and pull the fuel rail which sits on top of the lower intake manifold. It's sounding like fuel injectors are a common problem once you get over the 130K miles. I'm at 186K. So maybe you may want to consider changing those if you're having to go in there if you haven't done so already.

For fuel injectors it's Mopar P/N: 4861667AA which I'm finding on Ebay for $80ea but I'm also seeing Bosch refurbished replacement injectors (Bosch P/N: 0280158119) which I believe are the original supplier for Mopar and able to get all 6 for $80. So I may go ahead and go that route replacing all 6 using the refurbed Bosch injectors.

 

Forgot to mention. They usually recommend to replace the Upper intake manifold gaskets while you're taking it apart as well. There's 6 of them, kind of like an O-ring gasket.(6) Upper intake manifold gaskets (4781580AA)

 

Here's a link to my step-by-step guide on replacing the LIM gasket if you haven't gotten it yet.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MJK...ew?usp=sharing

Also some pictures I took when doing mine which may be useful, where I had originally intended to put some of these pictures to the step-by-step guide but never got around to finishing it.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...oonXvgYPa-_-cF

 

Thanks for linking those numbers. If the injectors usually go around 130k then I'm definitely on borrowed time. I changed them on my TJ at 225k but that vehicle was cake to change them and they offered "upgraded" 4 hole injectors for more power, etc. I'll grab those o-rings as well since I'll already be in there, thank you for that. I have seen your LIM write up, it's sitting on my desktop now, reminding me that I've got to get that stuff ordered.

Thank you again buddy, I hope all else is well up north there with you and the family.

 

I'm now thinking I may want to do my valve cover seals while I'm in there taking the top part of the engine apart as well. It was mentioned someone had a misfire issue due to valve lifter lobes being worn, so thinking that's a good opportunity to inspect mine to eliminate that as a possibility. Which seal kit did you go with? I'm thinking I'm going to go with the Fel-pro kit for my valve covers. The mopor valve cover seals are like $45 each and then you still need to get the O-ring bolt seals which I'm coming up empty for a P/N.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

 

I haven't ordered it yet, but there was a complete kit you linked that had this grommets (I'll get a part number if I can get the computer running). I was looking at Rock Auto for just the valve cover gaskets and grommets when I thought I'd be able to slide by like that and they were at that same price point for a (potentially) Spicer branded one, though under another name- and it included both gaskets. It "looks" like the Mopar valve cover gaskets are per side at $48 and no grommets as you mentioned. I need to just pull the trigger on my cart but man, the price of all those parts hurts. At least it's spring time though so it's not 20° in the garage when I'll be getting it all swapped out.