Phenolic Spacer source for 1997 MM 5.0

[allmyEXes]

@efBrianM There was an improvement after the '97 Job 1 engines. Maybe @donalds could tell you a little more about that part of it. I think what the biggest problem with this engine is that it has to come out of the body, truck or Mustang, to fix it. Then people convince themselves that it is too much trouble to fix. I think the thought of having to do the repair is worse than doing the repair. If I could find someone younger than me to work on a couple of these 4.0s and learn about them, then I would build a designated bay at work just for 4.0 SOHCs and the automatics, no matter what version of A4LD and up, to work just on them. The problem at work now is this latter stuff is getting mixed in with the 1965-70 Mustang stuff and starting to interfere with what I'm primarily trying to do. My grandsons are still just a little too young to start training on the later model Rangers and Mustangs. this summer I'm starting out the 15 year old on the riding mowing that has to be done. From that task I will be able to see how motivated and responsible he is. I'm hoping for the best.

 

[donalds]

The heads are different slightly
Same timing components lol

If I could find someone younger than me to work on a couple of these 4.0

If only I was closer

 

[allmyEXes]

@donalds There was some kind of guide design improvement/upgrade that happened a couple of years in to the 4.0 SOHCs but I can't remember when but I know there was because I bought the better guides when I fixed my '97 White one.

 

[donalds]

As far as I remember they changed the heads In 2005
Not sure what other than no oil spray bars
Some changes to the heads or block I can't remember something to do with changing timing components
In 97 I believe they changed the jack shaft tensioner a little
Reinforced the front driver guide with metal backing
The rear passenger side part of the guide was changed From all plastic to part metal
They never changed the back guide that breaks ...the ford

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, the original chain system doesn't leave room to improve on, other that what they did early on with those revisions. The best way to fix it(besides not buying one) would be to swap to another engine, or swap the heads from a DOHC 2.8 V6. Those are not ideal options, the DOHC was from a smaller engine and the work to swap those is hard. One person did document that here, with very few details of what machine work was needed etc. That earlier DOHC V6 is a cousin(shortblock) to the 4.0, and that cam drive system is very good and reliable.

Swapping in an entirely different engine should be the best answer. Leave the 4.0 to people willing to deal with that, and move on and up, to a late direct injection V6. I hope I get far enough along with my projects to try a 3.7 in my 98 Mercury. If that engine will fit the engine bay, the result will be wonderful. But expect it to cost $4-$5k for sure, with a used engine and trans.