Any way to tell condition of timing chain?

9

92Patrol5.0

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Sep 20, 1999

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mar 7, 2004

#1

• Mar 7, 2004

• #1

Is there any way to tell the condition of the timing chain without pulling off the cover? I have 165k on the motor. I got the car with 97k on it, and I have no idea if the chain/gears have ever been replaced or not. My balancer is bad and already removed to be replaced. I don't wanna go thru the extra hassle of removing the timing cover if it doesn't need to be done.

 

stangbear427

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Nov 11, 2002

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Mar 7, 2004

#2

• Mar 7, 2004

• #2

If you are having trouble timing it, it's probably on the way out. SOMETIMES you can hear it slap inside, if it's real, real bad. If you don't even know if it's ever been done, I'd say get it out of the way now. You do know it's gone over 65k at least, soo you only have another 35k or so to go before you should start thinking about it anyway- and that's assuming it was done right before you got it. In the event that you decide to play it safe and change it, be very carefull taking the cover bolts out- they tend to want to snap off in the block.

 

bmo37

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Jun 27, 2001

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Mar 7, 2004

#3

• Mar 7, 2004

• #3

generally timing chains last about 100k, but there cheap enough that you might as well do it anyway since your replacing the balancer. might even consider a new waterpump to while your down there.

 

9

92Patrol5.0

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mar 7, 2004

#4

• Mar 7, 2004

• #4

Thats true. How many bolts hold the timing cover on? I know there's the 2 on each side in the pan... so 4 bolts at the bottom for timing cover to oil pan.. how many others are there? I think I saw 2 at the very top, but not sure about the others. Also, when removing the cover, is there going to be a lot of coolant spilling into the oil pan? What do I need to do to keep that from happening?

 

stangbear427

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Nov 11, 2002

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#5

• Mar 7, 2004

• #5

Drain the coolant system. When's the last time you flushed it out? Should be done every 50K or so.

 

9

92Patrol5.0

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#6

• Mar 7, 2004

• #6

I did a flush and fill this past fall. How do you drain the system though? Is there a plug in the block somewhere to get the coolant out or how do I go about doing this?

 

stangbear427

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#7

• Mar 7, 2004

• #7

should be a little spicket at the bottom corner of the radiator. You can usually drain it there, into a coolant jug. Take of the radiator cap so you can keep an eye on the coolant level, the pump isn't the lowest point in the system so you don't have to drain it all. Just down to an inch or so blow the pump, and when you're done you can put it back in, if it's been flushed recently, which yours has.

 

9

92Patrol5.0

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Sep 20, 1999

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mar 7, 2004

#8

• Mar 7, 2004

• #8

Oh, i thought you meant drain all of the coolant out. I already took the bottom radiator hose off and drained coolant out that way so i should be good to go. Anyone know how many bolts there are to take out of the timing cover? I think there are 2 at the top, the 4 that go oilpan/timing cover... anyone know how many others? And what do I do if coolant spills into the pan. Just drain the oil out and do an oil change and that will take care of it?

 

stangbear427

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Nov 11, 2002

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Mar 7, 2004

#9

• Mar 7, 2004

• #9

There are 11 into the block, and then the two into the oil pan. There are two more for the timing indicator, but that can stay on. You really shouldn't get any coolant in the oil pan, just take the pump off before you loosen the other bolts holding the cover on. Only @ half the timing cover bolts go through the pump housing.