99 5.0 which brand timing chain set?

[blakshukvw]

Should I only use a motorcraft set for quality or is the Cloyes sold at autozone ok? What about Comp cams set? Id prefer OEM but in a pinch and would use what others have used with oem like quality.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Should I only use a motorcraft set for quality or is the Cloyes sold at autozone ok? What about Comp cams set? Id prefer OEM but in a pinch and would use what others have used with oem like quality.

at least in sohc OE or bust, but i see you have a v8. interested to see if same methodology applies to this

 

[blakshukvw]

at least in sohc OE or bust, but i see you have a v8. interested to see if same methodology applies to this

I’ve searched online and on the site and found nothing about any “preferred“ brand for the 5.0. Would have figured it would have been covered by now. Lol

 

[410Fortune]

Cloyes is okay, Comp cams would be great, Ford is also very very good
The 5.0 does not really have timing chain issues, unless the engine is worn out (hahahahaha) and the chain stretches, which does NOT happen very often. So even the standard Cloyes chain and sprockets are pretty dang stout.
but if you are asking the Motorcraft parts are the best choice for most engines

 

[blakshukvw]

Cloyes is okay, Comp cams would be great, Ford is also very very good
The 5.0 does not really have timing chain issues, unless the engine is worn out (hahahahaha) and the chain stretches, which does NOT happen very often. So even the standard Cloyes chain and sprockets are pretty dang stout.
but if you are asking the Motorcraft parts are the best choice for most engines

My chain has some slack in it. Around 1/4”. I’m not sure what’s an acceptable amount. I’m in there so I figure might as well replace it. Truck has 150k.

 

[410Fortune]

1/4" sounds about right
at 150K its just starting life lol

 

[blakshukvw]

1/4" sounds about right
at 150K its just starting life lol

Do you have any idea on which Comp cams kit to use on the explorer? I’m seeing the 2120 but it specifically says up to 88. The 2138 does not delineate any model years. I called comp and the tech guy there seemed unsure but said he would use the 2138 and that there’s little to no difference between the two models. He said their ford stuff is confusing to even their tech dept.

 

[CDW6212R]

I have wondered about timing sets for any SBF since the 90's. Before then it was easy to choose them, the older engines had mechanical fuel pumps, so they had a special eccentric that had to fit the cam sprocket. So you picked from the others which should work on any EFI 302 etc.

But not there are tons of brands, the high end stuff is $150 or a little more or less, and the who heard of them brands are a bother and in the way of searching.

I'm used to the timing sets being about $50 to $100 for high end stuff, but that was 25 years ago. Skip any brand that seems like crap, such as Detroit Axle, but others should all be great for a stock or mild build.

Please avoid Cloyes, I had a set for a Cleveland in 1982 that they lied about it having seamless rollers. Back then almost all chains had seamed rollers, which do stretch more over time. The Cloyes was more expensive, say $75 back then, and I had ordered it by phone to confirm it had seamless rollers. I sent it back and have never bought any more Cloyes parts, I try to remember bad products.

 

[blakshukvw]

I have wondered about timing sets for any SBF since the 90's. Before then it was easy to choose them, the older engines had mechanical fuel pumps, so they had a special eccentric that had to fit the cam sprocket. So you picked from the others which should work on any EFI 302 etc.

But not there are tons of brands, the high end stuff is $150 or a little more or less, and the who heard of them brands are a bother and in the way of searching.

I'm used to the timing sets being about $50 to $100 for high end stuff, but that was 25 years ago. Skip any brand that seems like crap, such as Detroit Axle, but others should all be great for a stock or mild build.

Please avoid Cloyes, I had a set for a Cleveland in 1982 that they lied about it having seamless rollers. Back then almost all chains had seamed rollers, which do stretch more over time. The Cloyes was more expensive, say $75 back then, and I had ordered it by phone to confirm it had seamless rollers. I sent it back and have never bought any more Cloyes parts, I try to remember bad products.

I bought the 2120 comp cams set. Received it today. Gonna install tomorrow so I’ll let ya know how it goes. I was told by my local dealer this is the set for the late model 5.0’s even though in the description it says “pre 88”. They sent me a quote straight from Comp saying “can be used on late model engines but requires a 1 piece fuel pump eccentric.“ Im under the assumption that I just install like factory. This set was $90 on Amazon.

 

[blakshukvw]

Motorcraft is NLA, by the way.

 

[410Fortune]

I have had the timing sets come with the eccentric for the fuel pump... you just ignore it and do not install it
Fits fine otherwise

Cloyes parts seem hit or miss. You can buy Cloyes tensioners for a SOHC engine and they are garbage, but Cloyes makes the motorcraft tensioners for Ford.........fun times

 

[blakshukvw]

The comp cams 2120 timing chain and gear set is the correct part number for the late model 5.0 used in the explorer. Installed and runs great. Now I’m just crossing my fingers that my reseal on the timing cover is good.

 

[BTR]

@blakshukvw - It sounds like you're working on a 2001 5.0L with 150,000 miles and you're replacing the camshaft. I'm curious. Why are you replacing the camshaft?

 

[CDW6212R]

The comp cams 2120 timing chain and gear set is the correct part number for the late model 5.0 used in the explorer. Installed and runs great. Now I’m just crossing my fingers that my reseal on the timing cover is good.

Excellent. I hope it doesn't leak either, the timing cover is the only tricky part of the job. Mine has held great since I changed the timing cover gasket last Spring.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

@blakshukvw - It sounds like you're working on a 2001 5.0L with 150,000 miles and you're replacing the camshaft. I'm curious. Why are you replacing the camshaft?

when did he mwntuon that? iirc hes replacing the timing conponents and jt seems as if comp makes one?

 

[CDW6212R]

@blakshukvw - It sounds like you're working on a 2001 5.0L with 150,000 miles and you're replacing the camshaft. I'm curious. Why are you replacing the camshaft?

He won't be replacing the camshaft at any time in the near future. It is almost impossible to R&R it without removing the engine.

 

[CDW6212R]

I looked briefly for timing chain sets, and came up with a few others from typical brands, Edelbrock etc. There's another one that Amazon lists for the EFI 302's, the Comp Cams 2138;
Amazon product ASIN B000CIUBFO
Amazon lists both that and the 2120 to work in the Fox Mustang 302 HO's. So if that application software is right, they would work in all EFI 302's, and not any with a mechanical fuel pump. I would suggest calling Comp Cams to ask what the differences are, it's likely about quality of the gear material, or chains, which for anything not running 7500+ rpm, is minor(buy the cheaper set). Amazon has the 2120 set for $90, and that 2138 is $55

 

[blakshukvw]

@blakshukvw - It sounds like you're working on a 2001 5.0L with 150,000 miles and you're replacing the camshaft. I'm curious. Why are you replacing the camshaft?

Nah. This is on my 99 with 145k and this just started as a timing cover reseal. I just replaced the timing chain and gears as well since I was in there. I did not replace the cam.

 

[blakshukvw]

Excellent. I hope it doesn't leak either, the timing cover is the only tricky part of the job. Mine has held great since I changed the timing cover gasket last Spring.

I had some trouble getting it over the dowels but used a dead blow to get it on. My pan gasket at the front did tear like you’d mentioned it most likely would. The right side rubber separated from the steel but was still there. The left side bottom same. The left side top was essentially ruined and I tore the rest off. I also cut off the right top. So I lifted the steel up on both sides and squeezed rtv under it and then put a tall bead on both sides on the top. Essentially the rtv replaced the rubber on top on both sides. I drove quite a bit today and no oil or coolant leaks.

I should have just done this job a long time ago. It wasn’t hard at all. i dreaded doing this job thinking that the accessories and brackets had to be removed and I wasn’t thrilled about the thought of all that work. I was able to remove the timing cover and replace the gasket and not remove a single accessory. Removing the radiators from explorers sucks and was the worst part of the job, really.

 

[blakshukvw]

I looked briefly for timing chain sets, and came up with a few others from typical brands, Edelbrock etc. There's another one that Amazon lists for the EFI 302's, the Comp Cams 2138;
Amazon product ASIN B000CIUBFO
Amazon lists both that and the 2120 to work in the Fox Mustang 302 HO's. So if that application software is right, they would work in all EFI 302's, and not any with a mechanical fuel pump. I would suggest calling Comp Cams to ask what the differences are, it's likely about quality of the gear material, or chains, which for anything not running 7500+ rpm, is minor(buy the cheaper set). Amazon has the 2120 set for $90, and that 2138 is $55

I called Comp because I saw the 2138 as an option as well. Comps own tech department didn’t know the difference between the 2138 and the 2120, believe it or not. Lol. I said, “These are your parts and you guys don’t know?” WTH? He suggested using the 2138 simply because in their info it doesn’t specify a fitment ”up to date“ like the 2120 does. The 2120 says “5.0 up to 88”. I told the tech guy that and I said “nothing changed on these engines through 01. So what gives?” He didn’t know. All that said, I’d bet either the 2120 or the 2138 will work. I just know for a fact now that the 2120 for sure does work.

I did purchase it on Amazon cheaper than my local speed shop had it and got it next day.