1999 SOHC timing chain rattle

[GregCO]

What is the deal on the 4.0 SOHC engine? We bought our 99 in 2000 from a dealer. One year old with 30k on it. Nice car. Within a year (around 40k) the timing chains were rattling. Ford made a repair on it and all was good until it hit about 70k. Took it back under extended warranty and was told they were just noisy and not to worry about it. At 85k it lost oil pressure suddenly and that was it for the first engine. We were quoted $4,500 for a new engine. I decide to just stick a used one in it. Used engine had 80k on it, probably a mistake, but I was short on cash and decided used was all I could do at the time. The used replacement rattled from day one at start up, but sounded fine other than that (just like the original). Now at under 200k on the engine it sounds like the chins are trying to get out. How big of a job is it repair this to keep it going? Can a reasonably talented person change the worn parts? Silly thing doesn't leak or burn oil at all. Seems a shame to toss another engine in the scrap heap. Also, is it possible to put a rocker engine in it or are there too many differences to make it a clean swap?

Thanks for any advise,

Greg

 

[R1dd1cK]

Well in order to do everything right you would have to pull the motor all the way out to do timing chains. My explorer sport had 253,000 miles on the original motor and timing chains. So now the sport has been swapped to a 5.0 v8 awd. How clean was the install. Well the install is super clean as long as you have a doner vehicle.

 

[crazymind]

Well you could always do another swap.... but this time use the 4.0 from an 05 or up mustang. They have the upgraded timing guides (the part that seems to always break). That's my plan when mine takes a ****. But so far rocking almost 210,x.. and still going strong

 

[2000StreetRod]

2002 & later

I doubt there were any timing chain related improvements after 2002. All of the 2002 and later engines have the improved parts. You should get at least 150K miles on an engine with the improved parts. Unfortunately, the rear cassette guide assembly was not improved significantly so it will still break.

Replacing the rear cassette requires either pulling the engine (preferred) or the transmission (not so inconvenient if there is access to a hydraulic lift). Many forum members have replaced their timing components but it takes the discipline to follow instructions vs just removing everything and then trying to reinstall the way you want. The timing tool kit (OTC 6488) simplifies the process and makes the installation more reliable.

The OHV V6 does not have the timing chain rattle problem but is susceptible to blowing head gaskets if allowed to overheat. It only has 150 bhp vs 205 bhp for the SOHC V6. Most people don't keep a purchased used vehicle for more than 150K miles.

 

[masospaghetti]

The OHV V6 does not have the timing chain rattle problem but is susceptible to blowing head gaskets if allowed to overheat. It only has 150 bhp vs 205 bhp for the SOHC V6.

The OHV V6 has 160 hp in most Explorers...except the early 1st generation ones.

 

[koda2000]

the SOHC 4.0L V6 is know for having timing chain problems. it's just not a good design. there were problems with noise at startup due to oil pressure needing to reach the hydraulic tensioners. beyond that, the materials used in the timing chain cassettes (plastic) has a habit of breaking. by 2005, the materials used in the cassettes was improved and the installation of the 00M12 kit helped with the hydraulic tensioners not having sufficient oil pressure. with repair costs running up-wards of $2,500 (most of that being the labor involved) most people want to just get rid of them. if you're capable of doing the repairs yourself, it's a big job with you needing to pull the engine to get at the rear cassette. When my SOHC finally dies i wont bother repairing it. i'll either install a later model motor or get rid of it.

 

[GregCO]

Thanks guys. All good information. Too bad the silly timing chain tensioners are not all that great. The rest of the engine seems pretty solid. I lived through one engine swap I guess I can live through another. I started on Saturday morning and had it back up and going Sunday evening on the last one. Not too bad of a job. Just a tight fit. Killer part of it is you can pick these things up running pretty cheap. Dive them till they die and go get another. V8 conversion sounds fun if I could find a complete wrecked doner for all the parts to do it right.

Greg