new timing chain tensioner and guides as preventative measure

[fastcatexpress]

have a used used 97 5.4 engine with 85k on it trying to deside weather or not to change out timing chain and tensioners and guides? before droping it in my 97 expedition. oil look kind of dirty in it !

 

[stamp11127]

Welcome to the site.

Easier to change with the engine out since the hood latch won't be digging into your belly. Valve covers would be a straight shot going on, you have to wiggle them around with the engine in place. VC gasket kept rolling in the back resulting in oil leaks. Ended up using Permatex to hold in place.

 

[1955moose]

Why would you change out parts that normally last 200 thousand miles? You could pull the timing cover, inspect the chains, guides. If OK, replace timing cover seal, and gasket. I would as Stamp stated, change valve cover gaskets before installing, along with new Motorcraft sparkplugs. Much easier to do now than later. Other than that, have at it!

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[Trainmaster]

That engine's young at 85K. They normally go well past 200K with good oil changes.

 

[Habbibie]

Why would you change out parts that normally last 200 thousand miles? You could pull the timing cover, inspect the chains, guides. If OK, replace timing cover seal, and gasket. I would as Stamp stated, change valve cover gaskets before installing, along with new Motorcraft sparkplugs. Much easier to do now than later. Other than that, have at it!

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As preventative maintenance and while the engine is out I strongly agree with him doing it now its 10x easier with the engine out

Wouldn't hurt to do the water pump too while you at it

 

[1955moose]

Habbibie if its really 85k that's just changing parts to change parts. That's why I said pull the cover, check for slack. If that mileage is for real it should be a virgin in there! If not whoever sold the motor, lied his ass off to sell a motor!

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[Habbibie]

Habbibie if its really 85k that's just changing parts to change parts. That's why I said pull the cover, check for slack. If that mileage is for real it should be a virgin in there! If not whoever sold the motor, lied his ass off to sell a motor!

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There's many before us that have gotten the chain rattle in as low as 40k miles, 60k, 75k...

Mine started at 110k, by 121k I was looking for a replacement motor. By changing it now hes resetting the its biological clock and what is a $100-$200 part with 2 hours of work is a multi thousand headache once it's all in and it decides to sneak up on him in a couple years from now

 

[1955moose]

I didn't realize the chains wore out that quick. In that case, your right swap em now!

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[HawkX66]

That engine's young at 85K. They normally go well past 200K with good oil changes.

+1 I have 211k on my 5.4L. Timing chain isn't on my list of things to worry about because I change the oil. The Mustang I bought and ended up building with my son for his first car; however, is a different story lol Like these parts? Same thing, only different... We bought it this way from a girl. Rapping like Run DMC.

20170324_181354 by Dave H, on Flickr

20170324_160843 by Dave H, on Flickr

Mustang timing chain small by Dave H, on Flickr

 

[1955moose]

Trying to find a high performance car like a mustang or Camaro, that hasn't been beat like a field mule is tough. Factor in a lazy maintenance schedule, and you have usually a trashed motor. Luckily the 5.0 and 4.6 mustang motors are tough.

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[HawkX66]

Trying to find a high performance car like a mustang or Camaro, that hasn't been beat like a field mule is tough. Factor in a lazy maintenance schedule, and you have usually a trashed motor. Luckily the 5.0 and 4.6 mustang motors are tough.

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Definitely. The girl who owned this one destroyed it. Three spun bearings and a bunch of other issues I had to straighten out. After working on this one I fell in love the Mod platform. Very easy to work on. The only thing I didn't like was the twice the price cams... Can't do much about that on a twin cam motor though I suppose lol All I had to do was hone the cylinders. No other real machine work after all that abuse. How do you beat that?

 

[1955moose]

I personally like the earlier fox motors. 5.0/5.8. it's amazing the punishment they take. And with some simple hotrodding you can easily eek out 300-325 hp. More if you dont care as much about reliability.

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[HawkX66]

I personally like the earlier fox motors. 5.0/5.8. it's amazing the punishment they take. And with some simple hotrodding you can easily eek out 300-325 hp. More if you dont care as much about reliability.

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I never was into the old 5.0s and the 351s in my old F250s never gave me much of a hassle thankfully. I was always ripping around in Z28s etc. when I was younger. I mainly stick with messing around with my 69 bbc Camaro now if I'm working on something for fun. You want to see bullet proof? You should get out the Gen 6 big block Chevys. I just built a 461 that started out as a 98 van 454. 4 bolt main roller motor from the factory.

 

[1955moose]

Chevy motors are tough, as long as some bonehead used good parts. The big blocks are tough too, but because they are big blocks can't be spun too high rpm. I've always liked torque of say a 427 or 454 mill. A friend years back had a 65 Gto 389 built up, what an animal that little goat was! Wasn't going for a pun, but guess I did.

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[JExpedition07]

From what I gather it’s the valvetrain in the big blocks that don’t like the higher rpm

 

[HawkX66]

From what I gather it’s the valvetrain in the big blocks that don’t like the higher rpm

Chevy motors are tough, as long as some bonehead used good parts. The big blocks are tough too, but because they are big blocks can't be spun too high rpm. I've always liked torque of say a 427 or 454 mill. A friend years back had a 65 Gto 389 built up, what an animal that little goat was! Wasn't going for a pun, but guess I did.

That is generally true. Small blocks wind up higher, but I'll take my very easy 550 hp and 600 lb/ft crossing point at 5,500 rpms and smile all day long. ;-) I'm not into RPMs. That only helps if you are truly racing IMO. I've played around racing, but I stay mostly on the street. 4 spds and posi rears stay together longer that way. Ever try to build a 389 Pontiac? Good luck with your bank account... A friend has been screwing around with a 455 and a 389 for the last two years. Nothing, but issues. My brother has a 65 and a 66 goat. Ridiculous money into the 65. Animal? Yes. Worth the $? Hell no IMO.
Sorry to the OP. We kind of hijacked/derailed...