97 exploder, exploded!!

[cleudard01]

I have several big hunks of timing chain guides in my hand...LOL!
Do the heads need to be removed to get the timing cover out?
And how about the oil pan?
I do have a friend with the re-timing tools, lucky there.
Also lucky not too much more damage (I hope) still ran so maybe no bent valves. Do I REALLY need a valve job too?

Knee deep in another ford Thanks

 

[IZwack]

First off you gotta tell us which engine you have -- the OHV or the SOHC.

Next thing is how did you find these timing chain guides? Did something literally crack open ejecting the guides or were you just replacing something and happen to find the broken guides?

 

[Willard]

IZ, I don't think an OHV even has timing chain guides. If it does, they don't fail.

 

[IZwack]

Ah well t hanks for the clarification, now we know which engine we're dealing with!

If the vehicle still ran, then it could just be the balance tensioner

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! How many miles do you have? Your profile says that you have a 97 & a 97.5. I guess this means a 97 1/2? What did they change in the middle of the year?

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[cleudard01]

Sorry Guys, SOHC with 180k miles. Looks like the chain wiped out guides all the way around

 

[skoal_mint]

I dont know if that engine is the interference type, but would ike to know

usually every timming chain/belt book has a list of engine of interference types and non

 

[cleudard01]

I would bet it is an interference engine since they went to a chain instead of a belt. I think I was lucky. I don't think it jumped time.
Still lots of broken stuff, though. & deeper than I wanted to go.

 

[cleudard01]

They seemed to have changed alot of stuff in 97.5 but....trannys & transfer cases swap. Engine & exhaust are all different.

 

[cleudard01]

I have a virus on the puter too so please excuse me for late replys.

 

[cleudard01]

Heard noise pulled LH valve cover & found the top of the top guide broken off & slipped down to where the tentioner was not hitting whereit was supposed to

 

[joshuaj0214]

mine just let go in december. All 4 tensioners broke, must have been a chain reaction.(no pun intended) The manual says to pull the engine as the second step in the job! So I pulled it, got it on the stand and tore into it. I priced all the parts right at 700-800 dollars plus the few hundred in timing tools and decided to scrap it and drop in a 5 liter instead. I'm telling you to do this, it was just easier for me. The SOHC is not an interferance engine, but I found a ton of metal in the oil from the metal backed guides. If you do redo the engine make sure you spend a lot of time cleaning it out before you reassemble. Good luck!

 

[cleudard01]

Well, I got the timing cover off & think I found the causes of the terrible noises. I think the top guide broke & fell down wasted the rest of the guides in the front. If I'm doing all the front guides I think I would want to do the rear also. Chains & gears look very good, but I don't really want to pull the engine, everyone says, pull engine....why?
Bottom guides look ok to whatever is run with the real small chain, oil pump or whatever is behind the top of the oil pan.

 

[IZwack]

Chains & gears look very good, but I don't really want to pull the engine, everyone says, pull engine....why?

Cauz its very difficult w/o clear access to the rear. You could just move it forward a few inches -- that might give you enough room.

 

[cleudard01]

Not so sure I'll do the rear, I don't see a reason unles it is broken, since it is a non-interferance engine. Guides look old but ok. everything else I can see looks perfect. Looks worth fixing.

 

[joshuaj0214]

Not so sure I'll do the rear, I don't see a reason unles it is broken, since it is a non-interferance engine. Guides look old but ok. everything else I can see looks perfect. Looks worth fixing.

Do it now or do it later? That is the question! I'd say your lucky to have gotten 180K+ out of her... the other one cant be to far behind! Once again, GOOD LUCK!

 

[98xploder]

youll need to pull the motor. theres just not enough room to do everything while its in the bay.

 

[cleudard01]

Looks like I'm gunna take my chances & just do the front guides. I just got done with tons of other work on this thing & the kid is foaming at the mouth. The front guides let loose after 2 days. Someone else got the good 180k miles out of this. If I gotta do the rears later, so be it.
Wasn't too bad doing the front but now I need the timing tools. Since I may be doing this again someday I was thinking of buying the tool set.
OTC 6488 is the # for just the SOHC @ $183 BUT the masterset is only $230.
These are the cheapest I've found today unless someone is willing to rent me these tools. I probably won't be using them a whole lot. I'm in way S.E. West Virginia.