Head removal

[JoeBoomz]

Wish the chains I just did had those nice dots on them! I had to do the hardcore counting method and marking with a sharpie.

[STRAN]

Nice work. Wish I would have seen this sooner and been able to chime in - I also used the 'Zack' method. It was a little alarming having to fight the valve springs but everything timed in just fine in the end.

Once I had the chains on, I used a breaker bar to rotate the motor slowly to ensure there was no PTV.

AHHHHHHH. I MUST CHK for the PTV. Cross my fingers, already torque the heads down.

[justbob]

Nice work. Wish I would have seen this sooner and been able to chime in - I also used the 'Zack' method. It was a little alarming having to fight the valve springs but everything timed in just fine in the end.

Once I had the chains on, I used a breaker bar to rotate the motor slowly to ensure there was no PTV.

Try it with heavy duty springs.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[vegasmarauder]

I see you have the original metal chain tensioners. Did you release the little internal ratchet mechanism to collapse the tensioner? They should be OK if they are the same as when they came off, but if they are too tight it may cause the nylon to come off the tension arms. There is a small hole in the front of the tensioner and you can see the teeth of the ratchet mechanism. You might be able to release it even with everything installed.

By the way, this is a good time to actually replace those guides. They wear grooves into the plastic material and that's the rattle on cold start up. Hate to make you re-do the work, but tensioner guides are relatively cheap preventative medicine part.

But congrats on getting it together right. If the marks are lined up, it's right.

[STRAN]

.

By the way, this is a good time to actually replace those guides. They wear grooves into the plastic material and that's the rattle on cold start up. Hate to make you re-do the work, but tensioner guides are relatively cheap preventative medicine part.

I did not release the tensioner, used a screw driver to hold them back. I recognized the possibility of resetting them to the wrong tension, to tight or loose and thought of a way to avoid it.

As for the gUides they looked to be in pretty good shape with only the leading edge showing wear. I priced them and it was more than I could afford at the time. Don't remember the amount just the sticker shock.

[massacre]

Glad to see you got it all straightened out. From the pics it looks like you nailed it.
I happen to have the tools and can also achieve the same results in the same amount of time.
We all do things differently the right way is the way that works for you.

[STRAN]

Thanks, I need the confidence these days.

[vegasmarauder]

You got the timing marks lined up correctly. That's where 90% of the people mess up. I was doing a MM and talking with someone. Was just about ready to put the timing cover on when I saw one of the timing marks on the crank sprocket was off by a tooth. So all in all you are doing great work!

[STRAN]

I am blushing.

[massacre]

Wish the chains I just did had those nice dots on them! I had to do the hardcore counting method and marking with a sharpie.

I don't understand all of this counting, either.
The primary chains are equidistant no counting necessary.

[JoeBoomz]

Try it with no marks and without taking the chains off. As in the cam covers are still on. Then you need to start counting.

[massacre]

Try it with no marks and without taking the chains off. As in the cam covers are still on. Then you need to start counting.

That is true I guess but I would simply remove the cam covers and remove the chains and start all over.
Again, everyone does things differently but making it harder on yourself and calling it "hardcore" sounds strange to me.
I find that usually only the Panther guys give me grief about my methods, the Mustang crowd seems to be more in tune with getting things exact and taking things completely apart. I'll never apologize for using the proper tools and procedures to get things done.
That being said, I realize that not everyone has the tools or the know-how to do everything properly, sometimes you have to make the best with what you have and I see no problem with that as long as the end result is the same or similar.

just my .02

A funny quote I read once:
"The Modular Ford V8- making mechanics out of regular people since 1992"

[STRAN]

In case anyone is wondering I have stalled again.
First I lost the gaskets to the timing chain cover, I know I had them, suspect they were thrown out by accident. That cost me another 42 bucks including shipping.
Second my wife and I have hit a ruff patch and are trying to sort through it. The Marauder has taken a back seat to all of that.
As soon as the gaskets show I am gonig to get back on it.

[STRAN]

#~%^#*|>~€<¥~€~%,#.?#*|%|#}^#€ |^!!!!!!!!!!!

The lower intake. £¥%€€#! Just was not going in easy, so I tried a little harder. Nice. Already have a plan but that is two nights wasted.

[a_d_a_m]

Welcome to the snapped bolt club! I had the same issue.

Drilled out what I could, re-tapped, no problems.