How bad to do the timing chains?

[johnboneske]

Ok, I have convinced myself to do the job! I have been looking at rock auto and stuff for parts. I see you can get plastic or cast tensioners, are the plastic ones ok? I am gonna do chains, guides and tensioners. Anything else I should do? Who has done the job? Anyone near Columbus Ohio that wants to make some money doing it for me? LOL

Oh, I have a 2003 Expy with a 5.4 2V motor, and just turned 202k on it. Runs great otherwise. Doesnt use a drop of oil, and trans was rebuilt about 50k ago and shifts firmly and perfect!

Think I am gonna order this kit, plus gaskets.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0143H4...colid=7ACHP1P6FAHZ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Trainmaster]

I wouldn't on a dare consider putting in all that hard work and labor but installing the cheapest Chinese parts I could find on Amazon. Please, Dude, spend the money, buy Motorcraft stuff and avoid doing the job twice.

 

[johnboneske]

Where do you find Motorcraft stuff except at the Stealership? Does Rock Auto sell it?

I see the Number 1 seller on Rockauto is CLOYES 90391SB,

I want to know who has actually done the job and what they used?

 

[johnboneske]

I ordered this set from Rockauto:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/enginetech,TS391SD,timing+set,5756

I also got the gaskets for the cover, and valve cover gaskets, and front seal for the crank. Got a new water pump too.

 

[Trainmaster]

Tasca Ford has good prices and a good Web Site. You can call them and they'll do right by you. Or you can buy the Chinese kit, save $90, put a pan under the car for the oil leak and do the job again in six months.

I must say I'm no genius; it's just my opinion and more than a few years experience. Never had a problem with a Motorcraft part, but the Chinese ones gave me trouble probably 70% of the time. When a job's exceptionally rough, I don't want those risks.

 

[Shabadoo]

Shouldn't be too hard of a job really, just time consuming. Some may recommend putting in a new oil pump too since you're going to be in there anyways. Don't forget a tool to hold the camshafts. Otherwise the second that chain is off it could rocket a valve into a piston. Enginetech looks like a pretty good company. I agree that motocraft is best but I'm also a big proponent of finding a happy medium in terms of cost/quality. I would recommend spending the money on gaskets though. There is nothing more annoying and time consuming than trying to find a leak

 

[johnboneske]

I bought a set of Felpro gaskets for the front cover and valve covers.

 

[johnboneske]

You do realize that ALOT of Motorcraft parts are made in China right?? Just my $.02

 

[JExpedition07]

You do realize that ALOT of Motorcraft parts are made in China right?? Just my $.02

Plastic parts yes, if the MC is Chinese OEM likely was too. My Motorcraft wheel bearing I just replaced was stamped FoMoCo Made In USA. The timing parts will either be canadian or USA I almost guarantee.

 

[Dewayne]

I wish you lots of luck with fel-pro valve cover gaskets. I've had the pleasure of doing the chains in my 99 expedition last week and a customer's 03 f150 this week. The only problem I had was with the vc gaskets not staying in the grooves. Tried 2 different fel-pro sets from 2 different stores, victor-reins perfect fit.

 

[1955moose]

One thing I learned doing these jobs for a long time is never, never, no matter what others say use cork gaskets, always rubber for pan and valve covers. You can tighten down on rubber, cork will crush;

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[johnboneske]

Got it apart, installed the new guides, tensioners, and chains. The passenger side tensioner was bad, blew the seal out on the "body" of the tensioner. The drivers side was getting ready to fail too. My new ones came with metal plates to install behind the new tensioners. The worst part of the job so far was getting out the lower power steering bolt. Had to remove the pully, to get the line pressure line off, to get a 6 point socket on the bottom bolt. Took off the oil pan and there isnt any debris in it, and checked the pickup on the oil pump. All is good! Started putting it back together, gonna finish it tomorrow after work...blah!!

 

[1955moose]

Goes to show the 2 valve motors had better chain guides than the later 3 valve. Either that or you got lucky. What brand parts did you end up buying?

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[johnboneske]

I ended up with this set:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/enginetech,TS391SD,timing+set,5756

I didnt get cork gaskets either. I learned that years ago when building 800+ HP engines, when I had money and could do that stuff...LOL

Yes, my guides were in PERFECT shape! Not even a scratch or wear marks in them. The nylon glides on the glides are orange too. Not sure what color they were from the factory? The tensioners were plastic. But, then again I dont know if this job was done before I owned it either... I have owned it for 60k miles and all was good up to about 100 miles ago, so if I can get another 60k out of it, I wont own it then either....

 

[1955moose]

The picture doesn't show the chains, but the description does. Yeah it's funny how many mechanics especially transmission love cork. I had it crush doing a oil pan years back, and never used again. When you purchase a transmission filter/ gasket set they come with cork, I purchase a separate rubber one, and toss the cork!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[johnboneske]

Got it done, and purrs like a kitten, except now the power steering pump is leaking!! Got a new pump and started taking back apart again! Hope to get it finished tomorrow...

 

[johnboneske]

Finished it last night, fired it up and the power steering pump leaked badly! Replaced the pump today. Its all good now. Back together and purrs wonderfully!

 

[Bain64]

Awesome work John! Glad it's up and running! Truck on brother.