4.6L engine rattle

[jonnyslick]

So for the past year or so my 4.6L V8 2002 Mounty has been making a "rattling" sound ... It currently has like 180k miles on it. Had the timing chain/guides replaced like 15k miles ago.

At idle when it's cold it sounds fine, but once I drive it for 20 mins or so and it get's warmed up it begins to have a rattle that sounds a lot like a diesel. It's RPM dependent too. The more you rev it the faster the rattle gets. Also, the tranny is shifting hard on hot days and sluggish to shift on cold days.

I'd like to get all this fixed since my trucks paid off and I don't owe anything on it. What you all think is a good way to go? Replacement longblock and tranny? Have a shop rebuild them? Buy a junkyard engine/tranny? Or ????

Also, what kind of budget you think I should plan on?

 

[BestUsernameEver]

Aye! I have the EXACT same issue, had a few useful suggestions on my post:
http://explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272740

I am in the process of replacing both tensioners (front one seemed fine) and will be doing another more serious engine flush...

Wish you luck, keep us updated and Stay tuned

 

[jonnyslick]

Yeah I read all of that .... You know I had the timing chain and tensioners replaced and for about 4 months the sound went away. Now the sounds back. Another thing, after I do an oil change the sound goes a way for about 4 weeks or so .... but then it persists.

 

[jonnyslick]

Well today it's been rattling very very badly ..... when I rev the motor it sounds like a tin can full of metal BB's heading rolling down the road.

 

[ACbackhoe]

did you ever find out what the noise was? Mine is doing the same thing.