Timing Chain replacement

[Ken Albrecht]

One-owner '97 Ford Explorer XLT 4wd SOHC 6 cyl 4dr with 280K mileage. Toying with idea of ponying up the $3300 to replace timing chain that is failing versus looking for a replacement 2007-2010 Ford Explorer vehicle. Truck is barely worth any of that 3300 estimate to fix but it's paid for versus on the hook with truck payments if I update into new problems later on with newer (slightly) Ford.

 

[Mr. Alligator]

Depends.........

IF it is just transportation, replace.

IF it is a financial question, replace.

IF you enjoy the current vehicle, with all of its character, quirks and projects, repair.

Good luck.

 

[alaskan155]

i just bought a 01 a few months ago for $750 with 180k 2wd....4.0 sohc....
you can find decent 5.0 ones for under $2000 my current daily i paid $350 for (97 5.0 awd leather loaded 220k currently has 232k)

just invest in another 2nd gen 5.0/4.0 ohv and save the 97 for parts or run it til the chains break....thats my plan with the 01....if you want to spend $3300 just get a remain long block motor(jasper), labor will be about $1600 to $2000(16hrs x$100ish) then you know the motor is new....you already paying to pull the motor for the chains...

 

[alaskan155]

also the newer explorers are only worth it if you get he 4.6l.... the 3rd gens have the same exact 4.0 sohc with the same exact problems...

 

[koda2000]

I'm in the process of replacing the timing chains in my '01 SOHC Sport Trac. Even doing the work myself I'm figuring I'm going to have to put about $2500 into it (in parts and tools). I had to think long and hard about bothering to invest another $2500 into an '01 (plus putting in my considerable labor), but being it's a Sport Trac and considering what I paid for it almost 5 years ago ($1000) I think I can recoup most or all of it if I sell it in the near future.

I would not attempt making these repairs on a '97 Sport or 4-door Explorer. It's just not worth it. Where I live a clean '97 Expl V6 Expl (without any issues) is worth maybe $1200. With issues it would be worth scrap valve. You can probably pick up an '01 V8 for well under $3000 if you really want to stick with a Gen II Expl. I'm thinking about selling our '02 Mountaineer V8 for about $1500-$1700 and there's nothing wrong with it mechanically.

 

[donalds]

I agree with @koda2000 not worth it even for me to say