timing chain

[BakerEdition]

Well for the last few night as it get colder, my girlfriend has been using my Expy to go to work..I have always thought this truck had noisy wrist pins, however listening to it last night i was standing in front of it and I think maybe i have a timing chain slap..have 100k on it now and the noise seems to vanish after it runs for a while...has anyone ever done one of these or had similar noise? I know its not a lower end noise or lifter noise...if its a chain i want to get it fixed..I have noticed i have had a slight drop in fuel economy and have changed nothing to cause this...any ideas fella's???

 

[toms89]

Well for the last few night as it get colder, my girlfriend has been using my Expy to go to work..I have always thought this truck had noisy wrist pins, however listening to it last night i was standing in front of it and I think maybe i have a timing chain slap..have 100k on it now and the noise seems to vanish after it runs for a while...has anyone ever done one of these or had similar noise? I know its not a lower end noise or lifter noise...if its a chain i want to get it fixed..I have noticed i have had a slight drop in fuel economy and have changed nothing to cause this...any ideas fella's???

Its not uncommon for the chain tensioners or guides to wear out so its a possibility. If you do go through the effort I would replace both chains, tensioners and guides and be done with it. I believe you can buy it as a complete 5.4 2v timing set. You have to remove the timing cover obviously and to do so requires you to drop the oil pan (removal not necessary and remove the harmonic dampner. You can get away from removing the valve covers if you just remove the front few bolts but it will be a pita to get the valve cover gaskets to stay in place when you re-install timing cover.

If you look closely at the photo you can see the tensioner near the top on the slack side of the chain guide. It uses oil pressure to maintain tension. If tension is not maintained the chain can "slap" against the guides.

 

[BakerEdition]

tom, thanks for the help and the pictures...im more concerned about the timing marks...I saw a complete kit which even included a oil pump..if i got to go through the trouble to drop the pan, I might as well change the pump. do they make a high volume pump for these? also i see summit has a windige tray..what do you think? also do you know is there a better water pump available?

hehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/97-01-Ford-E-F-SeriesTruck-5-4-330CID-V8-SOHC-Timing-Chain-Kit-Water-Oil-Pump-/261063478107?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2000%7CModel%3AExpedition%7CMake%3AFord&hash=item3cc8988b5b&vxp=mtrre is a link to a kit i saw on ebay

 

[toms89]

tom, thanks for the help and the pictures...im more concerned about the timing marks...I saw a complete kit which even included a oil pump..if i got to go through the trouble to drop the pan, I might as well change the pump. do they make a high volume pump for these? also i see summit has a windige tray..what do you think? also do you know is there a better water pump available?

hehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/97-01-Ford-E-F-SeriesTruck-5-4-330CID-V8-SOHC-Timing-Chain-Kit-Water-Oil-Pump-/261063478107?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2000%7CModel%3AExpedition%7CMake%3AFord&hash=item3cc8988b5b&vxp=mtrre is a link to a kit i saw on ebay

The oil pump is on the crankshaft in these behind the timing gears. I would not worry about trying to remove the oil pan... just drop it to gain clearance for the timing cover. Not even sure if you can completely remove it without lifting motor or dropping crossmember. I know they offer high volume oil pumps for these.

Just make sure you rotate motor to top dead center with the marks lined up as in the photo before removal. Do not rotate anything while timing chain is off because you will have piston to valve contact. I can get you detailed instructions on how to do it.

 

[toms89]

By the way....I had gotten a windage tray for my build from Summit. Cant remember the manufacture off hand but it did not come close to possibly fitting. Not even with a BFH so I returned it.

 

[BakerEdition]

well I had to replace the trans pan last summer because it was leaking around the weld in the drain plug and I seen one I think at summit and it holds a extra quart of oil... don't know if this would be over kill??? Maybe I should come to Maryland and just pay you to do it...since your so vastly qualified....LMAO...btw..does summit have these high volume oil pumps?

 

[alaskanexpy]

mines alittle noisy. changing oil weight and filters helped. its been like this since i got it at 63k and at 86k now nothing has changed. i mostly get a rattle at start up then it calms down. i'd let it ride..but thats me

 

[BakerEdition]

Alaskan, mine was the same way at 77k i noticed it...i have used synthetic, conventional and different weights...it is getting louder especially i notice the colder it gets...im the kind of guy who would rather just do and fix it instead of waiting till it breaks.