94 3.2 sohc changing valve cover gasket

[vietrat]

i recently just bought a 94 trooper. runs pretty well, except much oil is leaking from the left side valve cover. so i opted to change the gasket myself. i am changing the problem side first, before tackling the more difficult side. but the valve cover will not come out, after i have taken off all the screws and bolts i can see. the front side of the cover readily comes off, but there is something binding in the rear, preventing the cover to come off. is there a special way, such as a notch, where i would have to push forward, or hidden bolt i should look for? i even took out the 2 screws in the back of the valve cover that were holding in the horseshoe shim. but to no avail.

[trooperbc]

just saw your post. have you gotten the valve cover off yet? you removed 6 bolts? got a rubber mallet? be careful about prying on those 'ears'. there's a dab of silicone sealant at the point where the curved part meets the flat of the head; maybe that's what's holding it on. (not to mention 13 years of baking vc gasket)
also, are you replacing the spark plug tube seals as well as the vc gasket?; you should.

//bc

[atfdmike]

there are more than six fasteners on the cover. Two are located in the middle behind (or under) the cam shaft seal retainers. the one in the rear can be hard to see (impossible)...you may have to feel for it by blowing it out and working the hex wrench in to it. The two screws are also a little longer than the other fasteners. The rear one is difficult to reach but can be done without removing the cam seal retainer. I use a ball nose hex wrench. Like BC said, the dabs of RTV also help hold it down pretty good. The DOHC cover seal comes with the spark plug hole seals as part of the whole gasket. Hope this helps.