• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

to replace the timing chain or not


black_demon69

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
1,510
Reaction score
142
Points
63
Location
AZ
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0l
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
ok i have to do the water pump and timing cover leaks oil so i figured it might be a good idea to replace chain as well (needed or not). so do you think i should replace the timing chain or not? truck has about 165000 on it 4.0l ohv 94 ranger
 


RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,291
Reaction score
8,296
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
My vote is....Not.

4.0l OHV never had timing chain issues, it has lasted 165k so will last another 165k, at least
New chain could be faulty, never know
 

Angie

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
1,510
Reaction score
368
Points
83
Location
Vancouver area BC Canada
Vehicle Year
92 & 83 project
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
4.0L 302
Transmission
Automatic
^^+1

4L has a great chain tightening system on them.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,202
Reaction score
17,516
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Check both it and the tensioner while you are there and go from there.

It may not have a problem, it may not ever have a problem... you will never be closer to changing it until you have to.
 

black_demon69

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
1,510
Reaction score
142
Points
63
Location
AZ
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0l
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
timing set is only about $25 w/ten. and guides on RA so i might just do it since i am there.
 

Angie

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
1,510
Reaction score
368
Points
83
Location
Vancouver area BC Canada
Vehicle Year
92 & 83 project
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
4.0L 302
Transmission
Automatic
that price includes the sprockets?
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,202
Reaction score
17,516
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Stay with name brand.

It very well could be that 20yo Ford parts are better than cheapie overseas parts.
 

97RangerXLT

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
6,738
Reaction score
3,841
Points
113
Location
Fishers, IN
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
31"
^^^this.

AJ

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 while sitting in my underwear
 

AllanD

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 1, 2001
Messages
7,897
Reaction score
134
Points
63
Age
62
Location
East-Central Pennsylvania
Vehicle Year
1987... sorta
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
'93 4.0
Transmission
Manual
In several family vehicles I have seen 4.0's go well past 300k miles and have never replaced a 2.9 or 4.0 timing chain and the 4.0 OHV has a superior tensioner to that on the 2.9.

The 4.0OHC is another story all together, which is why I'm less than thrilled with the idea of owning one.... And when I bought a gen2 Explorer I bought one with a 5.0...
 

black_demon69

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
1,510
Reaction score
142
Points
63
Location
AZ
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0l
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Ended up buying timing chain but I will decide if I am going toreplace it wwhen I do timing cover gasket and water pump
 

black_demon69

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
1,510
Reaction score
142
Points
63
Location
AZ
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0l
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Also I have noticed thatin recent years even name brand parts are made in China so are a lot of oe parts
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,202
Reaction score
17,516
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Also I have noticed thatin recent years even name brand parts are made in China so are a lot of oe parts
This is true.

The Chinese are not stupid, they can make parts to meet Ford or anyone else's spec. Ford will generally require them to be a better part than the weird no-name places will. I didn't look up your truck to see which one were referring to for $20, it was just my $.02 in a general warning.

I have gotten a fair amount of stuff from Rockauto, I have seen some of the weird off the wall names for some of the brands with the way too cheap pricing... if its too good to be true it probably is. :fie:
 

trader007

New Member
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
149
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Automatic
My vote is....Not.

4.0l OHV never had timing chain issues, it has lasted 165k so will last another 165k, at least
New chain could be faulty, never know
my 99 4.0 ohv has 285k miles on it, timing chain has never been an issue
 

black_demon69

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
1,510
Reaction score
142
Points
63
Location
AZ
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0l
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
ok went ahead and replaced timing chain it had about 3/8" chain deflection which is 1/4" more then aloud according to spec. it did smooth out and no longer bucks but idle is still a little rough.. there are no vacuum leaks i have smoke tested it, plugs and wires are new and firing order is right, fuel pressure is 35 psi 45psi without fuel pressure regulator. O2 sensors are new.

only thing i can think of is fuel injectors

what do you think?
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top