has my sohc had a replacement timing chain?

[slowsn]

just picked up a 98 EB explorer with the 4.0. truck has HIGH miles at 169,300. its clean, runs great and shifts good. got to doing some reading on these sohc motors and about the big TSB on the timing chain. now im paranoid. i'm hoping mine has been changed (all 3 ). i called my local ford dealership to give them the vin to see if they could pull up any service records. she said she wasnt able to view anything over 10 years old.

couple questions-

is there any way i can find out via the vin number if this truck has ever had the timing chain, tensioners, etc? i would think i could tell by listening to it but sounds normal to me. no slapping or grinding noise from what i can tell.

if it was making noise, its pretty noticeable - right?

the TSB that i read said for 99 up 4.0's. is the 98 4.0 exempt from the TSB? or do the 98's present the same problem?

im assuming not ALL 4.0's have this problem either?


thanks for any help and info, much appreciated

 

[iowaboy]

Timing belt

I'm the original owner of a 98 EB with 161,000 mi. Have never changed the timing belt. Runs fine no chatter. Don't intend to do it in the future either.

 

[slowsn]

I'm the original owner of a 98 EB with 161,000 mi. Have never changed the timing belt. Runs fine no chatter. Don't intend to do it in the future either.

sure hope i have the same luck as you

 

[paWOLFck]

I just finished doing the Timing Chain repair; it wasn't that much work.

She purrs like a kitten.

 

[97xlt4.0]

I've got 172k on my 4.0 SOHC, and I'm guessing that the work was done, as good as mine runs. FWIW, the orig. owner was pretty sure he got a recall notice about the timing chain problem, and mine is a '97.......

Maybe try another dealer to see if you have better luck getting any records by the vin number?

I'm going to try to get the records on mine this week.....we'll see how it goes!

 

[slowsn]

let me know if you have any luck getting your service records

thanks

 

[Neil1750825]

I just finished doing the Timing Chain repair; it wasn't that much work.

She purrs like a kitten.

I seems like you did the repair yourself. I would have thought it would have been a total b**** to do. What about the symmetrical heads and the one near the firewall? Did you pull the engine? I imagine you would have to. I ride mine hard and would love to at least inspect them. I don't hear any noise but know I can't possibly reach the one located near the firewall.