2001 4.0 with 130,000 just blew. help.

[redneck_rainey]

well the driverside bank started a tick. from the head. alot of ppl told me it wasnt the lifters, and that it was the timing chain tensioner. well appaerently not cause today i was driving and the tick got realllly loud real fast and then about 10 miles later the motor died and will turn over but no real feedback from the motor and its making no attempt to start. ****. well ,me and my friend are gonna rebuild it hopefully. where should i start, should we just pull it out first thing?

 

[Big Jim M]

Sounds like the chain tensioner finally gave way and the chain jumped a gear or two and now it is so out of time that you will have to tear it down, same as we told you a few days ago..
Big JIm

 

[redneck_rainey]

yea, is there enough space for the chain to completely derail?

 

[Big Jim M]

HELL yeah!
Big JIm

 

[redneck_rainey]

i think it probably did then. we're gonna pull it out asap and start checking thru everything. gonna suck.

 

[Big Jim M]

Someone else

i think it probably did then. we're gonna pull it out asap and start checking thru everything. gonna suck.

Will have to say if the 4.0 is an interference engine or not.. I'd bet it is if I had to make a bet.
If the engine IS a interference engine the odds are great that you have bent some valves or even damaged a piston or at the worst bent a rod.. I'd be checking it over real good.
Big JIm

 

[redneck_rainey]

whats an interference engine? is that where the piston could hit the valves if the timing is off?

 

[exbass94]

whats an interference engine? is that where the piston could hit the valves if the timing is off?

Yes. And the 4.0 IS an interference engine.

 

[Big Jim M]

What was the engine doing when it blew? You might have just junked that engine.. I wouldn't even think of trying to repair it in the vehicle.
I'd first check the timing by hand to see if the timing mark was at TDC when the #1 piston was at TDC. If it still is then you have a problem other than the chain. If it ISN"T then you may have lots of problems.
Maybe I'd pull the plugs, wire the throttle open and do a compression check just to see what damage, if any was done to the top end or even the bottom end.
If the compression shows to be all about the same then I'd leave it in the vehiicle and replace a chain set... Or maybe even just the tensioner. Depending on what I found in there.
BUT expect the worse.
Big jim

 

[redneck_rainey]

well yesterday all i had time to do was take a quick peek under the hood. the valve cover is cracked over where the timing chain sprocket is..... im guessing the chain derailed.

 

[redneck_rainey]

the chain is still railed, but the round metal bar that went behind the tensioner cassette that pushes on the upper side is all the way on the other side of the chain wedged up against it.

 

[Chance]

Welll... you're screwed. Pull the heads off and post pictures of the carnage!

If you're lucky you didn't damage the pistons too much...