Do I pull the engine on a 4.0 to repair the timing chain slapping?

[steveeo]

My 1991 Ford Explorer 4.0 timing chain is smacking so hard about 2,000 to ,3000 rpms. It sounds almost like a rist pin smacking the pistons. I have ordered the timimg chain kit. Only 3 pieces? Do I need more parts than this? Can I leave the eniginge in place todo this? What parts do I need to remove as well?
Thanks for your tips
STeve

 

[JDraper]

Motor has to come out because you have to remove the oil pan to remove the timing chain cover. The water pump can stay attached to the timing chain cover, but you also gotta remove the crankshaft pulley.

Suggestion: Go buy a Haynes repair manual from an auto parts store. Costs about $17 and has tons of useful info. Not as detailed as a shop manual, but if you're mechanically inclined, it has enough info to do most jobs on the vehicle.

 

[steveeo]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo! What the hey? Please tell me its not so! You are talking about a 1991 4.0 Explorer? I just put that engine in about 2weeks ago and it was a 3 day job from Heck and Back!!! Can I unbuilt the engine from frame and work around this while leaving the engine connected to the trans?

 

[JDraper]

What causes the problem is that the timing cover bolts to the pan, so you have to replace the pan gasket when you do the change. You may be able to remove the engine mounts, lift the motor up a little and do it that way, but I'm not sure if you have the clearance to get the pan out of the way AND put a new pan gasket back on. The pan gasket is what I think causes the problem.

Do a search here to see if anyone has managed to do it that way.

 

[Glacier991]

Man if I had the engine out of a 12 year old explorer, I'd seriously consider a rebuild at that time.

 

[steveeo]

Rebuild then?

Well, I did call the folks in Canada. Thanks again for this link. They have the rebuild for $260.00. What a savings from the local shops. They had the kit for $1000.00. This vehicle was only going to be a fast buck (buy low sell high). Now I think I'm going to hang on to her and driver her after the rebuild. I tried to pull the cranks pulley off this afternoon but it was so frozen on that I destroyed my puller. Do I need a special tool for this? Also has anyone had any funky trans problems after 150000?

 

[slag]

you do NOT need to remove the engine when changing the timing chain on a 4.0 from 91-94. When you remove everything down to the front cover including the water pump and crank pulley, the front cover will unbolt and lift right off. Clean the surfaces where it mates to the oil pan really well and goop them up with RTV, reassemble using a new front cover gasket, and thats all that is needed.

the cover comes off nicely without pulling the engine

 

[bates]

Conflict of interest here. Does anybody else have an opinion on this? I have the same problem with the chain.

 

[JDraper]

The info I gave is based on 2 different manuals I have, if Slag has actually done one without pulling the motor, that's cool and good info for everyone else. I can see how it might be done that way if you use a lot of rtv (as mentioned above) to seal up what a new pan gasket normally would.

 

[bates]

I know my haynes manual says I need to pull the motor. What if you remove the pan from the bottom. Maybe remove some suspension pieces. I will scour through my manual more for info I guess.

 

[JDraper]

Both my Haynes manual and my Ford repair CD say the motor has to lift, but I can see how Slag could have done it. I'd be worried about oil leaks or damaging the crankshaft seal (during removal or installation) doing it that way, but it looks feasible.


BTW, The pan isn't coming out without lifting the motor. The main cross member of the frame is in the way, and you can't slide the pan out because of the oil pump. You might be able to lift the motor slightly and do it, but I haven't tried that personally.

 

[agarcia]

where and how i can get ford repair cd?

i would like to know where i can get the ford repair cd

 

[Robb]

i would like to know where i can get the ford repair cd

www.ebay.com