well,well, well. i guess its my time to attempt this fun task.....
97 explorer, 4.0L SOHC, auto, 4x4, 226 x.. KMS
scenario: driving the truck i hear a noise, and all of a sudden it looses power, but is still running (just sounds like its missing). i opened the hood to see a hole about the size of a nickel in the valve cover on the drivers side and inside this hole i can see the timing chain.
basically im ASSUMING a piece of the guide broke off, caused the chain to skip, punch a hole in the valve cover, and caused the cam timing on the drivers side to be out.
i decided to take the accessory brackets off, valve cover off, and upper intake off and hold out on more work before i read more in depth into this.
now i have a few questions.
has anyone been able to rent the special tool set from ford, a toolwarehouse or the like or do you have to buy it?
is there any way to just get some slack in the chain, time the cam , replace the guide and call it done ( i know the cams wont be excatly in time not doing the passenger side) ?
basically the truck is a work truck, and i dont plan on keeping it any longer than a year or two more.
i know it the idea sounds bad, and all the guides/tensioners SHOULD be done but has anyone found a cheap easy repair for this?
P.S. im glad my DD has a pushrod 4.0L...
thanks in advanced, kyle aka pnut