SteelQualityMan
08-18-2017, 09:51 AM
My MM has about 190 K miles on it, and I recently started hearing the dreaded tick-tick from the timing cover. The car was in Columbus Ohio a the time and I had to get it back home to Warsaw Indiana. I crossed my fingers, grabbed my rabbit's foot, sacrificed to the gods of DOHC engines, and drove it home very gently. :bunny3: I got my car home without incident, but, since I'm not crazy enough to drive it any further, the car has sat for almost two months while I gathered up the parts needed for a chain / guide / tensioner replacement. I have a pretty good set of tools and have done some work on the car on my own. Then I started reading all of the existing posts on the subject here, and any how-to's I could find on other forums.
I have the Ford Racing complete kit (Ford Racing M-6004-A464 Crankshaft Drive Kit), the Fel-Pro VS50477R Valve Cover Gasket Set, and the Fel-Pro TCS45980 TC Gasket Set. I did not order a pan gasket as I hoping that dropping it will prove to be unnecessary. What I do not have is the Ford tool to lock the cams in place during the replacement. Even if I had the special tool, I am concerned that the job is beyond my mechanical skill and physical ability. I had a stroke as the result of a blown out cerebral aneurysm in December of 2014 that left me with limited strength and mobility on my left side. All of the mod wok on my car, except for the TCE brakes and the LED lighting were done with the guidance and assistance of a friend who is a certified airplane mechanic, but he is no longer in town. My budget will not stretch to having the job done by one of the local shops, or even, heaven forbid, the local Ford stealer, as I am presently unemployed and looking for work.
So, bottom line, can anyone loan me the cam locking tool? I would be fine with leaving a deposit, but it makes no sense for me to buy one. Secondly, is there anyone in the vicinity of Warsaw Indiana who could help with the job? I could have the car trucked somewhere within 100 miles if need be. I use the MM as a daily driver, and for as long as it is out of commission I have to use my Kenny Brown Crown Vic. The paint was near show quality when I got it, but despite my best efforts to preserve it, it is still collecting parking lot dings and scratches. If something doesn't happen soon I am going to submit both cars to Garage Squad. :violin:
I hear so much on this forum about MM-ers going far out of their way to help one another. I love that spirit and enthusiasm for an almost 15 year old car and I am hoping I can tap into a part of it. I am not looking for a free ride, just some helping hands. I do have a number of parts that I would trade for help if need be. (A couple of MP-112's, a set of 96-98 Cobra cams, and a new-in-box Afco 80284 double-pass Heat Exchanger with two SPAL fans and relays - retail about $780 on E-Bay, for example.) So, can anyone lend (or barter) a hand?
I have the Ford Racing complete kit (Ford Racing M-6004-A464 Crankshaft Drive Kit), the Fel-Pro VS50477R Valve Cover Gasket Set, and the Fel-Pro TCS45980 TC Gasket Set. I did not order a pan gasket as I hoping that dropping it will prove to be unnecessary. What I do not have is the Ford tool to lock the cams in place during the replacement. Even if I had the special tool, I am concerned that the job is beyond my mechanical skill and physical ability. I had a stroke as the result of a blown out cerebral aneurysm in December of 2014 that left me with limited strength and mobility on my left side. All of the mod wok on my car, except for the TCE brakes and the LED lighting were done with the guidance and assistance of a friend who is a certified airplane mechanic, but he is no longer in town. My budget will not stretch to having the job done by one of the local shops, or even, heaven forbid, the local Ford stealer, as I am presently unemployed and looking for work.
So, bottom line, can anyone loan me the cam locking tool? I would be fine with leaving a deposit, but it makes no sense for me to buy one. Secondly, is there anyone in the vicinity of Warsaw Indiana who could help with the job? I could have the car trucked somewhere within 100 miles if need be. I use the MM as a daily driver, and for as long as it is out of commission I have to use my Kenny Brown Crown Vic. The paint was near show quality when I got it, but despite my best efforts to preserve it, it is still collecting parking lot dings and scratches. If something doesn't happen soon I am going to submit both cars to Garage Squad. :violin:
I hear so much on this forum about MM-ers going far out of their way to help one another. I love that spirit and enthusiasm for an almost 15 year old car and I am hoping I can tap into a part of it. I am not looking for a free ride, just some helping hands. I do have a number of parts that I would trade for help if need be. (A couple of MP-112's, a set of 96-98 Cobra cams, and a new-in-box Afco 80284 double-pass Heat Exchanger with two SPAL fans and relays - retail about $780 on E-Bay, for example.) So, can anyone lend (or barter) a hand?