Good News on Timing Chain Replacement 4.0L SOHC

[Mik33]

As I am typing this I have had my 08 Explorer running for about a week. For those that have the Death Rattle of the timing chains, with a little mechanical know how and patience you too can do this job!
Is it a PITA? Yes!
Do you have to pull the engine? Might as well! Only my left bank went out, After the engine was pulled and timing parts were being removed the right bank which looked completely fine...crumbled as soon as I took the bolts out.
This will give you an opportunity to get the heads redone, clean piston heads, replace head gaskets and time the engine correctly.
I used all new TTY bolts where needed from Ford, replace the timing components with Cloyes, and changed every gasket while cleaning the engine.
All in including buying an engine hoist and stand, machining the heads, OTC toolkit 6488 (able to get on eBay for 60 bucks), all fluids and tons of new tools.....im in about $1877 to do the job. Mechanic I use on some things, quoted 25 hours to pull the engine and do the timing chains not everything else I did to the engine.
Pulling it myself gave me the opportunity to rewrap all the wires in the harnesses that go brittle over time.
All said and done she is running sooooo quiet!
Thanks for all the folks here that have spent so much time going over the issues!
Now Im available for helping others do this procedure!

 

[donalds]

Nice job
Now it's time to do some performance mods

 

[Mik33]

Nice job
Now it's time to do some performance mods

Exactly my next thing to do! LMAO!

 

[Explorer_PL]

Wow, impressive.
I would not sleep for 3 weeks before and 7 weeks after the job
This is not a job for everyone.

 

[410Fortune]

NOW change your oil at 3-5000 miles, run full synthetic ONLY and change the tensioners at 100K miles
this will ensure a very long life for that SOHC engine, they are BULLETPROOF on the bottom end.

 

[Explorer_PL]

yep,

But I'd change the oil first after 300-500 miles.

 

[Mik33]

yep,

But I'd change the oil first after 300-500 miles.

Oh def!

 

[digifoss]

NOW change your oil at 3-5000 miles, run full synthetic ONLY and change the tensioners at 100K miles
this will ensure a very long life for that SOHC engine, they are BULLETPROOF on the bottom end.

How big / expensive a job is it to change the tensioners ? I would have my mech do it, not myself.

 

[donalds]

Not a hard job at all
If you are hesitant take pictures and label bolts in a bag

 

[dprocket]

As I am typing this I have had my 08 Explorer running for about a week. For those that have the Death Rattle of the timing chains, with a little mechanical know how and patience you too can do this job!
Is it a PITA? Yes!
Do you have to pull the engine? Might as well! Only my left bank went out, After the engine was pulled and timing parts were being removed the right bank which looked completely fine...crumbled as soon as I took the bolts out.
This will give you an opportunity to get the heads redone, clean piston heads, replace head gaskets and time the engine correctly.
I used all new TTY bolts where needed from Ford, replace the timing components with Cloyes, and changed every gasket while cleaning the engine.
All in including buying an engine hoist and stand, machining the heads, OTC toolkit 6488 (able to get on eBay for 60 bucks), all fluids and tons of new tools.....im in about $1877 to do the job. Mechanic I use on some things, quoted 25 hours to pull the engine and do the timing chains not everything else I did to the engine.
Pulling it myself gave me the opportunity to rewrap all the wires in the harnesses that go brittle over time.
All said and done she is running sooooo quiet!
Thanks for all the folks here that have spent so much time going over the issues!
Now Im available for helping others do this procedure!

Where are you located? I live in Kansas City. I have the death rattle on my son's explorer, and fear its done. I'm adventurous, but have never touched an engine. Don't think I could do it.