Are there any things I should do to the engine before i change the valve cover gaskets? I bought a set of fel-pro gaskets since the old ones have started leaking oil under them. I am also going to change the plug wires since i just changed the plugs and since i will have to move the wires around to get the valve covers off.

Thanks,
Andrew

Turn it off. That thing is like a machine!!!

Seriously, while I've never done them on a 3800, valve cover gaskets are usually pretty simple and straight forward.

I'm doing mine as soon as the snow melts...

I changed my O2 when it was -10 out, not fun

I've replaced the front and rear gaskets on my '92 and my '93.
If your engine has the power steering fluid reservoir on the top of the engine on the driver'* side (like both of mine do), it makes replacement of the rear gasket a little more difficult to do because the hose runs along the top rear of the engine and connects to the power steering pump on the lower passenger side. When I replaced mine, rather than removing the reservoir mounting bracket I decided to siphon the fluid out of the reservoir and then disconnect the hose where it connects to the bottom of the reservoir so the hose could be moved out of the way.
I replaced my gaskets with the silicone rubber type of gasket rather than the cork type. According to the instructions that came with the gaskets I bought, gasket sealant isn't required, so I didn't use any.

It'* pretty straight forward. Like everything else, the key to success is making sure the mating surfaces are clean and dry before reassembly. And torque the bolts to the proper value (not sure what it is off the top of my head) and in the right sequence (according to a Chilton'*).

I did them on my 99 last May. The thing that made it easiest for me was to remove the stabalizer bar that goes from strut tower to strut tower. That really opens up the access on the back side. Just make sure you reinstall it before you drive the car.

simple just take you time and torque them down to the right specs

Seems like everything has been said.. Since I have an LN3, and that is a different procedure than your'*, the only advice I can give you, is whatever you take off, CLEAN. I don't know if you were a member here yet, but somewhere around here, is a picture of my valve covers [before + after], and the before was NOT pretty. Now is a great time to clean them up, and clean EVERY SINGLE gasket mating surface. Make the metal shine, bud. My gaskets are original, and rubber, not one bit of deterioration. Chances are there is nothing wrong with your gaskets, but just dirt and stuff on the mating surface. But, you can see how big a difference clean and not clean can make? Oh, and put on the new gaskets, no matter how good the old ones look. Even though mine didn't leak, and mine looked great.. I am still replacing them.


-justin

mine is leaking oil, so i need to change em

All 3800'* use the exact same valve covers, LN3-L32. Procedure is the same, but the stuff you have to get out of the way may not be!

That'* what I meant. Because my EGR valve needs to be removed for the rear. There is probably other stuff that I don't remember now. When I disassembled my engine, I just took off whatever was on top, and if something got in the way, I removed that, and moved on.


-justin