dreaded cam chains

[alan13henderson]

got a bit of a rattle on startup after 2 weeks imobile
little noisy on tickover after fully warming
seems like front of engine only?
Explorer is a backup vehicle for me and so doesnt get lots of use but feel its to good to scrap.
I live not far from colchester
anyone know of someone who has done the job before locally and if so how much? any offers?
Im miles from the guys who list on ebay. Aylesbury nearest
does engine need to come out to do front only?
can you get away with just doing front of engine - see how it goes for engine out rear?
I have recently replaced my 302 v8 in a 67 mustang without problems but a bit worried about doing it myself as the general plumbing around engine frightens me.
thanks for responses

 

[Ilikemice]

I drove 120 miles to Newport each way to get mine done last weekend. Totally worth it.

Mine was £650 for all the chains and guides. The car drives beautifully now.

Call them up for a quote on the front chains. I remember seeing an ad on Ebay for the front chains only but that was near Southampton I believe.

 

[janolsson]

Hey Alan
If you get the cam timing tools and do plenty of reading on the forum you will be able to do this.
The front can be done with the engine in, although if the balance shaft guide is goosed (not common unless the rattle is all the time and been left for a while) the upper sump will have to be dropped which can be done in car but best out on a stand.
If you have the kit i would pull the engine and put on a stand as it it the first time you've done it and it will give you much more room to work.
Is the rattle consistant or only on start up as start up rattle can be subdued by adding the restrictor pencil from the oom12 Kit
Best of luck

 

[alan13henderson]

yep agree with you - if you have camshaft alignment tools but costs seem high for the tool if you can you find it in uk?
looked on ebay us and see full camchain kits reasonably priced - Im used to importing parts and can even see that mustangs unlimited will do me a kit for around 230 dollars = £230 when in uk garage from import experience.
just that ive literally still got scars from even changing plugs on the thing and think to pay someone is easy way out here and trying to find a reasonable price just for front.
Newport for me is other side of UK and then some - im in deepest essex, suffolk borders. Guess at 250+ miles either way - petrol costs alone!!!
Ask again, anyone (with proveable experience) reasonably local interested in the job?
Muchos Gracias

 

[p3rryn]

This guy replaced the front and back timing chain guides on my first explorer (for the previous owner), but from memory it was >£1200 at the time! (about 8yrs ago)

Robinsons Motor Engineers‎
Unit 21, Maitland Rd, Lion Barn Industrial Estate, Needham Market, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 8NZ
01449 722 240‎

 

[Ilikemice]

Sorry I must have edited my post to remove this:

I drove the 120 miles to Newport, but Aylesbury is about 100 miles from where you are, so to me, it's a reasonable distance to get that peace of mind.

It's still like £60 fuel though

 

[janolsson]

There was a guy on here called petetheengineer that rebuilt a couple for himself. He is in london. If you look up his profile you may be able to send him an email to see if he's interested.
I would lend you my timing tools but i'm still using them in an extended saga of balls ups

 

[janolsson]

Just a thought but if it can wait til august you could bring the engine to ford fair and we could do it as a bit of group fun

 

[hellhound]

I need to get my Ex done too, I am taking it to a friends garage in east london, I will see what he quotes me and let you know the outcome.

 

[alan13henderson]

been quoted £200 to collect and £650 to do all the chains from the Aylesbury guy on ebay. I would still have to collect. plus my petrol is being used so guess another £60 quid on top.
Thats £910 for complete job.
Could probably buy another explorer with chains done for that and move my new tyres, brakes etc over - dilemas dilemas

 

[PHaTGRoB]

Justin in Newport did mine and I would recommend him to any Explorer owner. £650 and my V-reg North Face has run very smoothly since. I had my doubts since Newport's a long journey and looked into alternatives but it was well worth the trip from North Wales. I had been quoted £1600 locally which is almost what I paid for the car in the first place, so it was a no-brainer.

 

[Bubble18-30]

Justin also did mine, He's a member of the Good Garage Scheme aswell, My Ex has run brilliantly since then and i even got him to fit a 2nd hand LPG Kit after that.

I travelled from Leeds in Yorkshire to Newport (450miles round trip!) because he came recommended. His number is 07921 823370 and his website is www.explorerparts.co.uk. (Tell him the Ben & Corinna from Leeds gave his number! - i'm sure that the picking us up from Newport Station got on his nerves!! )

Good Luck (And don't sell it!)