Mopar DOHC questions

so i picked up a 97 ACR last week. this is my first neon, and 14th mopar.

this thing is pretty marginal as far as history and maintanace go. im pretty much dealing with educated guesses. Previous owner just stated: quick lube changed the oil, and a guy down the block did the water pump and timing belt. it still needs a tune up" by inspection, the timing belt looks pretty frsh, theres no oil/water mixing, and it runs farly good.

problems:

1. the valve cover gasket leaks. a lot. is there anything i should do while i have it off to change it? i know on subaru's. we always adjust the valves when changing valve cover gaskets. what about the DOHC? adjust the valves? planning on replacing plugs, wires, and PCV while im in there, but anything else? any other notorious leaking seals in the area?
2. it smokes lightly when fully warmed up. the gas thats in the tank has been there since july of last year, and the car has sat since november. according to the previous owner, he would start it every week or two. im thinking possibly stuck rings, or really thin oil. anything i should know about? planning a leak down test to check after i put some miles on it and seafoam the cylenders. and change the oil.
3. i would like to install an oil pressure gauge so i can monitor during autocrosses. probbably t\do an oil temp ggauge if i ever get back into HPDE. what location do i use?
4. it has a bad catalytic converter, causing a check engine light for effeciency below threshold. as this thing is beinng built for autocross and the GRM challenge, a new cat isnt in the budget. plan is to gut the cat, as i still have to appear to have one for NC inspections. is tehre a way to do a downstream o2 simulator, or otherwise fool the computer into not throwing codes? if theres a code, i fail inspection. if all the PIDS are not in place, i cant get it inspected. and in NC, theres no way around it. any ideas?
5. any maintenace or things i should check/do that i havent already mentioned? just want to make it healthy and dependable. running in stock classes at the moment, so no mods for me yet. unless i break a manifold stud doing the cat, in which case im going with a header, etc.

thanks for any help you guys can give me. i figured the collective wisdom of the GRM board would be very benificial when learning a new model.

Michael

1. There are no adjustments to do under the cover, I'd explain but you'll see when you take it apart.

2. Valve seals? That would be my first guess

3. AFAIK it is on the back of the block about dead center, at least on the 2.4 it is.

4. Pretty sure it's looking for a switching O2 pre cat and a steady O2 voltage within range (whatever it might be) post cat

5. Car should have Koni's AFAIK, the early ones had Arvins though and I don't know the changeover point. If it has Konis check them for leaking shock oil.

Guy locally has a 199X ACR with a complete SRT setup (cluster, wiring, kitchen sink, etc.) It is a bone stock SRT setup but in the lighter 1st gen is a blast.

Oh and the org (neons.org) will be your friend.

Valve cover probably needs a new o-ring and some dabs of RTV at the cam tower junctions. Failing to do that will bring on the leaks.

You can get a plug-in sim for the O2 and probably will pass emissions.

Everything needs to be checked. You already stated the marginal maintenance from the previous owner.....

Valve covers leak, but while you are in the neighborhood pull the cam sensor and change the oring on it too.

Take two spark plug non foulers. Dremel one of them out so your oxygen sensor will thread inside it. Put the drilled non fouler on the oxygen sensor. Put the unmodified non fouler on that assembly. Put that in your exhaust. No codes.

ive read that on a few forums during my google-fu session after deciding the cat was going south. does it actually work?

and ill do the cam sensor o-ring. any others?

and im going through the car stem to stern for maintenace. most of its pretty simple stuff, just looking more for the DOHC motor specifics.