My Dilemma

[CaperCanadian]

Hi all,
Looking for an opinion of sorts. Have a 2000 xlt 5.4lt with 220k of which i put 150k on her. Picked up all the parts to change out the timing chains a while back and decided to tackle it today. Opened up the passanger side valve cover expecting to find a loose chain on both sides of the cam sprocket but only the guide side is loose and cant get the cover off to see down inside if the guide is gone. From the look of the bolt heads it may have been apart before and chains have been done, i bought the truck 8 years ago. Any thoughts on thinking that the guide is gone and possably the tenshioner or is the loose chain on the guide side normal for these engines. Everything i have read was saying it should be tight on both sides. Oh and she has cold soked for about 3 days so thinking maybe leak down in the tenshioner as well.

 

[toms89]

After it has been initially set up and run it should be tight!

Failure of the guides/tensioner is somewhat common with these. They have metal and plastic versions. Metal is ideal, plastic is prone to fail at the mounting point.

 

[CaperCanadian]

Update, after getting a camera down in there, its looking like the guides are ok, im guessing because she has not run in a few days that may be the cause of the guide side of the chain being loose, well not real loose but there is defelction in the chain. Can see that OEM ford guides and tenishioner was used when the timing gear was replaced before. There are small wear marks on the guide on the tenshioner side but other than that all looks ok. going to put the valve cover back on the beast for now and give it a check in a few months. Oh and i belive it was some one here that said removing the inner fender to get at the valve cover bolts was a good plan, who ever that was you are a life saver. Pulled the innerfender and behold all the lower bolts right there. while its off going to take one the dredded broken exhaust studs as i have 2 missing.