2008 Explorer 4.0 hard start, backfires after replacing head gaskets.

[Chiefg16]

My son's 2008 Explorer with 4.0 was gushing water out of radiator on start up and kept blowing radiators. So I expected a blown head gaskets was causing excessive water pressure. I tore he heads down, confirmed the leak, I did not rotate the engine or cam shafts during this process. I replaced the heads (SOHC). I did not disconnect the cam sprockets from the chains, I just took the bolts off that hold the cam shaft sprockets to the cam shafts.

Put engine back together it started up just fine. Let it run for about 10 minutes, no excessive water pressure, engine idled on its own with no need to press accelerator. Fired it up next day, it started right up, drove about 1o miles. Shut if off, turned it back on a few minutes later and it stopped running at stop light and I could not get it to re-start. Towed it home, was able to get it to almost start but now it backfires a lot and will not stay running on its own.

Do you think something happened to the timing after it got warm, or could it be some fuel sensor or something? Fed up. Not sure why it would start right up after rebuild and then once warmed up it will not stay running and is backfiring...help before I push this off a gliff.

 

[Explorer_PL]

How are the sprockets bolted to the camshafts ? I think just by the yield bolt ? No key there. Did you torque it correctly ?
Maybe it rotated few degrees and it's out of time ?
I am sure there are some experts on 4.0 and they will chime in, kudos for tackling that job, it's not an easy one.

 

[Chiefg16]

How are the sprockets bolted to the camshafts ? I think just by the yield bolt ? No key there. Did you torque it correctly ?
Maybe it rotated few degrees and it's out of time ?
I am sure there are some experts on 4.0 and they will chime in, kudos for tackling that job, it's not an easy one.

The sprockets have No key or other alignment Mark I could see. I made sure not to rotate crankshaft d I used zip ties to hold the timing chains to the sprockets o the teeth would be in the same place. I removed the head bolts and cam shaft bolts and lifted the head straight up and off without rotating the cam shafts. I did think it was odd the cam shaft sprockets sis not have an alignment key or something

 

[boominXplorer]

Your out of time