Timing Chain replacement
02-20-2012, 10:16 PM
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Like others have said, it's not a particularly difficult job. If it's your first time, take lots of digital photos, tag and bag everything, and lay it all out in order on a large surface where things won't get disturbed until it's all back together.
The money you'll save is nice, but the self-satisfaction is priceless...
Good Luck,
JD
02-21-2012, 05:39 PM
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I did mine while I was changing the water pump last fall (92 F150, 5.8L). Broke a water pump bolt off, so I had to pull the timing cover to get the stub out. I spent all day, but I detailed everything while I had it apart. Degreased all the parts, and re-shot the front of the engine. It all looks nice now.
The timing set was only like $15 at O'Reilly for a double-roller steel set; ridiculously cheap. The gasket set was about the same price, if I remember correctly.
I could bang through the project in about 4 hours, if I didn't worry about cleaning/detailing. A beginner should be able to knock it out in a day; no problem. Definately get a FSM or at least an aftermarket manual as guidance.
Like others have said, it's not a particularly difficult job. If it's your first time, take lots of digital photos, tag and bag everything, and lay it all out in order on a large surface where things won't get disturbed until it's all back together.
The money you'll save is nice, but the self-satisfaction is priceless...
Good Luck,
JD
The timing set was only like $15 at O'Reilly for a double-roller steel set; ridiculously cheap. The gasket set was about the same price, if I remember correctly.
I could bang through the project in about 4 hours, if I didn't worry about cleaning/detailing. A beginner should be able to knock it out in a day; no problem. Definately get a FSM or at least an aftermarket manual as guidance.
Like others have said, it's not a particularly difficult job. If it's your first time, take lots of digital photos, tag and bag everything, and lay it all out in order on a large surface where things won't get disturbed until it's all back together.
The money you'll save is nice, but the self-satisfaction is priceless...
Good Luck,
JD
same thing happened to me. i had to replace the waterpump because it was leaking. broke a stud off, and had to remove the timing chain cover to get to the remaining portion. so i replaced the timing chain while i was in there. easy stuff, just make sure the timing marks line up before removing the set and don't turn either shaft until the new set is on.
the crankshaft seal is easy to remove and a new one should be included in your timing chain cover gasket kit. just make sure it goes in straight the first time.
the real trick is not to break any studs holding the waterpump/ timing cover to the engine block. from what i read this happens a lot with our 351Ws. something to do with the water pump studs going through the water jacket. so use a whole lot of penetrating fluid on all the fasteners, and let it sit, over night, or two, reapply numerous times. since you're removing the timing chain cover, get yourself a tap and clean out the threads in the engine block and don't reuse the old studs unless you absolutely have to, and if you do, clean their threads with a die or a thread file. nothing worse than breaking a stud upon reinstallation... i know...
also, don't mix the studs up, they're all different lengths. make a box with holes in the top and stick 'em in there as you remove them. since i was replacing my water pump, i just stored the fasteners in the old one.
but you're not asking for tips on how to do it; you're just interested in how much it would cost at a shop, that i don't know. i hope you decide to do it yourself though because, like JD says, the self-satisfaction is priceless.
good luck
Last edited by bikeymikey; 02-21-2012 at 06:04 PM.
02-22-2012, 05:19 AM
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Chain went on my 87 302. there were plastic pieces from the gear everywhere. Pulled the pan and pump and cleaned it all out. It was a real PIA but I know it is done right. Local shop wanted 925.00 to do it. Tokk me about 6.5 hours and less than 100. in parts
03-03-2012, 04:06 PM
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while your there put in a water pump, good time to put in a thermostat too! but like the other guy said about water pump studs, be careful they do break and its a p.i.t.a. to take care of, i always make sure i pick up a set thats vehicle specific, if i dont use em i take em back
03-03-2012, 04:10 PM
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same thing happened to me. i had to replace the waterpump because it was leaking. broke a stud off, and had to remove the timing chain cover to get to the remaining portion. so i replaced the timing chain while i was in there. easy stuff, just make sure the timing marks line up before removing the set and don't turn either shaft until the new set is on.
the crankshaft seal is easy to remove and a new one should be included in your timing chain cover gasket kit. just make sure it goes in straight the first time.
the real trick is not to break any studs holding the waterpump/ timing cover to the engine block. from what i read this happens a lot with our 351Ws. something to do with the water pump studs going through the water jacket. so use a whole lot of penetrating fluid on all the fasteners, and let it sit, over night, or two, reapply numerous times. since you're removing the timing chain cover, get yourself a tap and clean out the threads in the engine block and don't reuse the old studs unless you absolutely have to, and if you do, clean their threads with a die or a thread file. nothing worse than breaking a stud upon reinstallation... i know...
also, don't mix the studs up, they're all different lengths. make a box with holes in the top and stick 'em in there as you remove them. since i was replacing my water pump, i just stored the fasteners in the old one.
but you're not asking for tips on how to do it; you're just interested in how much it would cost at a shop, that i don't know. i hope you decide to do it yourself though because, like JD says, the self-satisfaction is priceless.
good luck
the crankshaft seal is easy to remove and a new one should be included in your timing chain cover gasket kit. just make sure it goes in straight the first time.
the real trick is not to break any studs holding the waterpump/ timing cover to the engine block. from what i read this happens a lot with our 351Ws. something to do with the water pump studs going through the water jacket. so use a whole lot of penetrating fluid on all the fasteners, and let it sit, over night, or two, reapply numerous times. since you're removing the timing chain cover, get yourself a tap and clean out the threads in the engine block and don't reuse the old studs unless you absolutely have to, and if you do, clean their threads with a die or a thread file. nothing worse than breaking a stud upon reinstallation... i know...
also, don't mix the studs up, they're all different lengths. make a box with holes in the top and stick 'em in there as you remove them. since i was replacing my water pump, i just stored the fasteners in the old one.
but you're not asking for tips on how to do it; you're just interested in how much it would cost at a shop, that i don't know. i hope you decide to do it yourself though because, like JD says, the self-satisfaction is priceless.
good luck
i got lucky after i did break a stud on my 89' 302 i got the timing cover off and the stud broke short a blue nose bottle wrench got me outta that bs