Help!! - Stuck on Timing Chain Cover

[bobflood]

'97 5.0 2WD EB; 285K miles: I have finally decided to fix the coolant leak in my TC cover. I have access to a lift, air tools, etc so thought my buddy and I could do it. Job has gone OK until now. We have the TC cover off - were dropping the oil pan per shop manual. however - we are STUCK.

How do you get the oil pan out from underneath the engine so you can clean up the surfaces and put in a new gasket. We have loosened up the exhaust so it is not in the way, and it is 2WD so no front drive stuff, but there appears to be no way to work the pan back far enough to clear the steering rack. At most, we can drop it about an inch or so in the front, and the back won't come close to dropping far enough to slide back below the tranny.

What are we doing wrong and can anyone offer some advise. This is the best auto forum around, so I know there is a lot of wisdom out there. Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[koda2000]

i have not done this job on an Explorer, but i've had to remove the oil pan on other vehicles. two things i found helpful.

1. unbolting the engine mounts and lifting the engine up.
2. rotating the crank shaft to get the counter weights out of the way.

hope this helps.

 

[radman]

Oil Pump and Pick-up

You may also have to unbolt the oil pump and pick-up to get the pan out.

 

[bobflood]

Resolution (Sort Of)

Thanks for the input guys!! After much scratching of heads and swearing, we determined that:
- The new gasket could be streached enough to go around the outside of the oil pan and put in place;
- However, there was no way to move the pan far enough forward to access the half moon area at the back end of the oil pan to dislodge that part of the old gasket/place the new gasket.
- Unbolting the motor mounts and lifting engine still did not provide enough space (that oil pan is VERY deep!!!).
- Therefore, after replacing the front TC cover gasket, WP gasket, etc, we just bolted the oil pan back into place using the old gasket.

Initial run-up shows no leaks; we will see how things go!! Thanks again for the help and advice. I have used various forums for my various vehicles and this one is by far the best.

 

[bill06447]

I have used the Permatex that comes in a can with a brush in the cap, to seal surfaces that would otherwise have been impossible without a whole bunch of unwanted work. Gob it on the brush, jam it in between where you want sealed, bolt back together, a half inch clearance is all you need

Bill

 

[Turdle]

Yeah, on a v8 the rack has to come out-

 

[kevinspann]

Yeah F this job. I'm sloooowly working on a Mountaineer that needed a timing cover gasket, and the oil pan gasket tore as well. Not to mention it was leaking oil from EVERYWHERE.

Hope to finally get the engine pulled out this week for a re-gasket, at least on the lower half of it.

 

[1992fordgreen]

Man why is everything so much harder on the V8...?

 

[bobflood]

Yeah, on a v8 the rack has to come out-

Turdle - so IF we had removed the steering rack, the oil pan would have come out without lifting/removing the engine?? How difficult is it to remove that rack with the engine in place??

Not planning on doing that unless the reused oil pan gasket leaks really bad, but would like to know for future reference. Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[Turdle]

Turdle - so IF we had removed the steering rack, the oil pan would have come out without lifting/removing the engine?? How difficult is it to remove that rack with the engine in place??

Not planning on doing that unless the reused oil pan gasket leaks really bad, but would like to know for future reference. Thanks in advance for the info.

Well, it is a royal PITA! but I do have a thread--

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242451

I did have to remove the oil pump and pickup to get the pan out, then, thru a 3" gap re install oil pump and pickup.

 

[bobflood]

Just to close out this thread:
After one month and several hundred miles, still no evidence of any coolant leak at the timing chain cover or the water pump. Also, no evidence of any oil leak at the oil pan gasket. So - it appears that this was a successful completion to this project!!

Thanks to everyone on this forum! I'll say it again - this is the BEST forum I have ever been involved in!!

 

[Turdle]

Good job! I know it isn't all that easy to get it just so. I hope you rest better now.