My Marauder is a POS

[DearbornDave]

Ok, my beloved Marauder is a certified piece of ****! Within 5 miles of turning 40,000 miles on the odometer, while cruising down Michigan Ave. in beautiful west Dearborn, almost within sight of Ford's World Headquarters, the timing chain for the passenger side head silently broke (I did not know this until much later). The car started running like crap, but I got it home. Since I had only moments eariler filled my gas tank, I thought I had got a tank of bad gas. After dry gas and a new fuel filter did nothing, I was stumped because I never in a million years thought it could be something as bad as a broken timing chain. My son-in-law's cousin owns a muffler shop with a code reader, so I took the car there to have the codes pulled. Mind you I drove the car there! It still ran, albeit very bad, but it did run. When the codes were pulled, they were all misfire codes for the right side of the motor. The mechanic at the muffler shop told me to get the car to a dealer. My wife drove the car to Village Ford a mere mile from my house. They immediately called me and told me there was no compression on the right bank of cylinders and it would cost me $700 for them to tear it down so they could tell me what was wrong. After a couple days, they finally called be back and told me the right bank timing chain broke, and because I drove the car like that there was now metal shavings thoughout the engine, and it was basically junk. They quoted me a price of $4500 to swap in a used Marauder engine with 38,000 miles on it, but I can swap a motor myself, so I am having the car towed home tomorrow. Oh, and I got a deal. It ended up only costing $350 for the tear down, so with the towing charge I'm only out $400 before I even turn a wrench. So my questions are does anyone know where I can get a replacement Marauder engine in the Detroit area, and does anyone know who at Ford's I can ***** to about my motor taking a **** at 40,000 miles?

[Vortech347]

You can get the engine rebuilt for ALOT less than 4k with mostly OEM stuff.

[duhtroll]

You can buy a new block for much less than that.

[DearbornDave]

Yeah, I thought about that, but the Marauder is my daily driver and I need to get it back on the road ASAP.

[Vortech347]

Well if you're gona do it. Yank the engine and pull it apart and check for damages. The dealer may of been blowing smoke.

[DearbornDave]

That's another thing I've been thinking about. There might not be anything wrong other than a broken timing chain. They could just be telling me there's metal shavings everywhere to cover their a**. These newer engines with wires everywhere scare the crap outta me. I did a complete frame off resto on my 69 Chevelle convertible and rebuilt the 454, but I ain't never messed with anything like this before.

[NOMARQUIS]

No offense, I hope this isn't a common problem. Hey, now you can get a better motor, one that is built up with more horsepower!!!

[DearbornDave]

No offense taken, I hope it isn't a common problem too. I've been offered a couple of supercharged Cobra motors (complete with computers and wiring) at $3000 apiece, but I don't know all what's involved in puting one in a Marauder

[ImpalaSlayer]

No offense taken, I hope it isn't a common problem too. I've been offered a couple of supercharged Cobra motors (complete with computers and wiring) at $3000 apiece, but I don't know all what's involved in puting one in a Marauder

its not a drop in opperation theres some fab work. good luck!

[PSG]

go to CAR-PART.COM and do a search, they will show you junk yards that have them, usually with milage and price, and it shows distance from your zip code to make it easier

[justbob]

40,000 miles? This scares me.

[DearbornDave]

40,000 very well taken care of miles. Religious oil changes, never beat. I can count the times I "floored it" on my 2 hands. Since this has happened and I've been talking to various mechanics, I have been getting some very scarey horror stories about Marauders. Almost makes me want to fix the car and sell it.

[Dennis Reinhart]

Ok, my beloved Marauder is a certified piece of ****! Within 5 miles of turning 40,000 miles on the odometer, while cruising down Michigan Ave. in beautiful west Dearborn, almost within sight of Ford's World Headquarters, the timing chain for the passenger side head silently broke (I did not know this until much later). The car started running like crap, but I got it home. Since I had only moments eariler filled my gas tank, I thought I had got a tank of bad gas. After dry gas and a new fuel filter did nothing, I was stumped because I never in a million years thought it could be something as bad as a broken timing chain. My son-in-law's cousin owns a muffler shop with a code reader, so I took the car there to have the codes pulled. Mind you I drove the car there! It still ran, albeit very bad, but it did run. When the codes were pulled, they were all misfire codes for the right side of the motor. The mechanic at the muffler shop told me to get the car to a dealer. My wife drove the car to Village Ford a mere mile from my house. They immediately called me and told me there was no compression on the right bank of cylinders and it would cost me $700 for them to tear it down so they could tell me what was wrong. After a couple days, they finally called be back and told me the right bank timing chain broke, and because I drove the car like that there was now metal shavings thoughout the engine, and it was basically junk. They quoted me a price of $4500 to swap in a used Marauder engine with 38,000 miles on it, but I can swap a motor myself, so I am having the car towed home tomorrow. Oh, and I got a deal. It ended up only costing $350 for the tear down, so with the towing charge I'm only out $400 before I even turn a wrench. So my questions are does anyone know where I can get a replacement Marauder engine in the Detroit area, and does anyone know who at Ford's I can ***** to about my motor taking a **** at 40,000 miles?


This is a rare occurrence, and yes it is a bitter pill to swallow, but it is just bad luck, there are members here with over 100k on the clock and never have had a issue as this, you still have very unique car, this is a valve interference engine so for sure you have bent valves on the passenger side, you may be able to just get away with a valve job which is far cheaper, you can call me any time, and will help if I can.

[LOWBUCKMM]

40,000 miles? This scares me.


scares the crap out of me to. my car is about to hit the big 40. oh and dont sell the car just cause of this one thing. even thou its a big thing. but there are lot of people with these cars and only a hand full of them that hate there marauder on this site.

[DearbornDave]

Thanks Dennis! Like I said, I'm getting the car home tomorrow and should have the engine out sometime this weekend so I'll know more then.

[babbage]

Sucks bad. sorry about that. Perhaps you shouldn't have "babied" it so much?

Check out Kar-Kraft - they have a brand new (dyno time only) 4.6 DOHC motor for $1895.00 - You'd need your old intake and accessories from the Marauder.

There are lots of great places you can get a quality 4.6 32v motor from.
Another place is MMR (Modular Mustang Racing) they have pretty good quality stuff.

Good luck - It's probably just a fluke that the chain broke.

[DearbornDave]

Got a call in at Kar Kraft for that long block. Seems they don't update their website very often and they're not sure if they have anything for a Marauder.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I have never heard of this happening not even to Mustang guys with our engines.

[J-MAN]

Sorry about your bad luck Dave. I've got 136,000 miles and she runs like new-or better.

BTW, I've got an '03 motor and trans available for $1800, what I paid, if your interested. Sopposed to have 36k on it. I'm up by the Romeo engine plant. Give me a PM if interested.

[Marauderjack]

I don't believe the engine would run at all with the right bank completely DEAD!!!:shake:

Have you actually seen the broken chain?? :confused:

[eric jones]

That is very scary! Does anyone one know what the recommend interval is for timing chain(s) replacement? I can't afford to replace an engine so I need to do a preventative move. I have 93,700 mi on the odometer. So far 2 master cylinders and 1 booster replaced, removed crappy Granatelli COP's, replaced with OE.

[hot-rauder]

My motor blew at 34k miles.... Crank, bearings, and oil pump were replaced. at 52k, a little over a year later, it blew up again. Torqued block, 2 bent rods, and a few sheared piston rings..... My only mod was flowmaster mufflers and a K&N Intake.

I put a used motor in it, since it was my daily driver and I was short on cash. Cost me $4500 for everything, but theat was using internal rate at the dealer, since the owner is family.... My replacement motor, that supposedly had 57k on it, had 95k on it.... I heard it start detonating 5 months later adn decided it was time to sell the MM....

Good luck, it is a rare occurance, but you are not alone.

[Vortech347]

Some cars wern't blessed properly at dealerships and contain evil demons. When you get those cars its best to just put a helmet on and crash it into a tree. Totalling it out and helping the demons escape.

[massacre]

Sorry to hear.
There's a good chance when you tear it down that you might find something wrong the the tensioners/arms. Did they say which chain broke? If it was the secondary chain then the intake side of the valvetrain of that head might be fine. Sure you bent valves and whatever, but it might be worth it to replace 8 instead of 16..:shrug:
But if the pistons were damaged when they hit the valves then that's a whole new animal.
Again, sorry to hear this, and I'm sure the teardown will tell the unfortunate tale.
Good luck.

[03blackmerc]

113,000 on mine drive it everyday and never had a major problem with the motor

[DearbornDave]

Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it. I guess misery loves company. I got the car home today and will be working on it this weekend so I'll post my findings with some photos as soon as I know something.

[babbage]

Got a call in at Kar Kraft for that long block. Seems they don't update their website very often and they're not sure if they have anything for a Marauder.

http://www.karkraft.com/IMG_1237.JPG

2003 4.6 DOHC Aviator Engine
dyno time test engine
no front accessories
$1895.00
shipped as shown
can be used with Cobra fuel injection
great inexpensive street rod engine!
SKU 12113






This will might work- It's a 4.6 DOHC (looks new) You will need your cover, intake and accessories.

[DearbornDave]

Thanks for the help. I called there and the guy is supposed to get back to me, he told me he has to look around cuz he doesn't know if he has anything for a Marauder.

[FordNut]

http://www.karkraft.com/IMG_1237.JPG

2003 4.6 DOHC Aviator Engine
dyno time test engine
no front accessories
$1895.00
shipped as shown
can be used with Cobra fuel injection
great inexpensive street rod engine!
SKU 12113






This will might work- It's a 4.6 DOHC (looks new) You will need your cover, intake and accessories.


I believe that timing cover is the 3-bolt tensioner style.

[DearbornDave]

Ok, I got the car up into my back yard today and just a quick look under the passenger side valve cover revealed the primary timing chain is intact but the secondary chain is gone. I assume the small secondary chain in now in the oil pan? I don't know how long it'll take but I going to start pulling the motor tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have it out tomorrow and I'll know more than.

[babbage]

Thanks for the help. I called there and the guy is supposed to get back to me, he told me he has to look around cuz he doesn't know if he has anything for a Marauder.


Ugg, look at what I posted it will work. you will need to swap a few things.


Did you get the engine out?

[DearbornDave]

Did you get the engine out?

Got the motor out yesterday and tore it down today. No damage to anything besides the secondary chain and cam gears on the passenger side head! No bent valves, no dented pistons, nothing!!! The two small cam gears lost a few teeth and 1 chain link broke, all of which I found in the oil pan. So all I'm doing now is getting the replacement parts I need and putting everything back together, no new motor needed. So does anyone know any good tricks (read cheap) to do to the motor while I have it this far apart?

[Dennis Reinhart]

Got the motor out yesterday and tore it down today. No damage to anything besides the secondary chain and cam gears on the passenger side head! No bent valves, no dented pistons, nothing!!! The two small cam gears lost a few teeth and 1 chain link broke, all of which I found in the oil pan. So all I'm doing now is getting the replacement parts I need and putting everything back together, no new motor needed. So does anyone know any good tricks (read cheap) to do to the motor while I have it this far apart?


Well this is very good news, just have a good valve job done, I would use 03 Cobra headgaskets, and I would invest in a set of head studs, and I would look into a billet or cryo treated oil pump gear, call me if I can help any way.

[DearbornDave]

Well this is very good news, just have a good valve job done, I would use 03 Cobra headgaskets, and I would invest in a set of head studs, and I would look into a billet or cryo treated oil pump gear, call me if I can help any way.

Anything else?

[Dennis Reinhart]

Just check all the guides, I would replace all the gears and the chains. You will probably gain some RWHP with a good valve job.

[DearbornDave]

Just check all the guides, I would replace all the gears and the chains. You will probably gain some RWHP with a good valve job.

Thanks Dennis

[FordNut]

Well this is very good news, just have a good valve job done, I would use 03 Cobra headgaskets, and I would invest in a set of head studs, and I would look into a billet or cryo treated oil pump gear, call me if I can help any way.

Use the Melling oil pump for Cobra, it already has billet gears.

[justbob]

Rear cooling mod.

[AzMarauder]

Got the motor out yesterday and tore it down today. No damage to anything besides the secondary chain and cam gears on the passenger side head! No bent valves, no dented pistons, nothing!!! The two small cam gears lost a few teeth and 1 chain link broke, all of which I found in the oil pan. So all I'm doing now is getting the replacement parts I need and putting everything back together, no new motor needed. So does anyone know any good tricks (read cheap) to do to the motor while I have it this far apart?

Roll over to Lidio's (you are just down the street) and see if he has any thoughts.

[DearbornDave]

I don't know if anyone's still interested, but I got my motor put back in the car yesterday and everything seem to be working properly. The problem ended up being a broken secondary timing chain and gears on the passenger side head. No valves were bent and the pistons were unmarked. I found all the broken bits in the oil pan. Here are some pictures of the motor teardown and the finished product. I really appreciate everyones help!

[03calitejas]

OK so its definitely not a "POS" now right? I am so glad that it turned out to be a fairly minor fix and no damage to the internals...The gods of horsepower were smiling on you...I definitely love the blue head covers and the powered by ford coil covers...

and Dennis- dude you rock! I read a lot of garbage in here lately but you've helped me out when I needed it and went above and beyond everytime...

[xopher]

I don't know if anyone's still interested, but I got my motor put back in the car yesterday and everything seem to be working properly. The problem ended up being a broken secondary timing chain and gears on the passenger side head. No valves were bent and the pistons were unmarked. I found all the broken bits in the oil pan. Here are some pictures of the motor teardown and the finished product. I really appreciate everyones help!
Good to hear this story luckily had a happy ending. If you would have found the motor was damaged, I was going to recommend boring and stroking to a 5.0L, a forged crank, and a supercharger :burnout:

Also, nice head covers!!

[Dennis Reinhart]

I don't know if anyone's still interested, but I got my motor put back in the car yesterday and everything seem to be working properly. The problem ended up being a broken secondary timing chain and gears on the passenger side head. No valves were bent and the pistons were unmarked. I found all the broken bits in the oil pan. Here are some pictures of the motor teardown and the finished product. I really appreciate everyones help!



That is what we all are here for, so this saved you a lot of money, and you still have a great car.

[juno]

Nice save on the motor! Hopefully she will give you many trouble-free miles!!!

[CRUZTAKER]

40,000 miles? This scares me.

Don't let it man....

It's like worrying the neighbors tree will fall on your garage.
Waste of worry time as it is really uncommon in the broad range of things.

Worry about the BLACKHAWKS...they need it.:P

[DearbornDave]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the help. I really like the "GT40" look of the blue valve covers and the powered by Ford coil covers. I figured while the motor was out, and while doing all the mechanical work, I'd do a little dress up stuff too, so I got a few things powder coated. I got the valve covers done blue, the upper and lower intake done mirror silver, and the exhaust manifolds done gray ceramic. Here are a few pix of the completed project.

[DearbornDave]

And YES, my Marauder is definitely no longer a POS!!!

[TiTo35]

:burnout: :banana: :up: