It always starts with something simple...

[SHOtimer]

Well, when I replaced my transmission I noticed some slight seepage from my valve covers, but was glad that my motor was still otherwise dry and clean after the rebuilt 80k ago...(wow time flys!)

...and the SHO had been taking extra long to warm up and the thermostat is 80k and 5 years old.

So, this morning I thought I'd attack replacing the valve cover gaskets and thermostat...easy enough right?

So, I pulled the intake and front valve cover without issue. I began to admire the clean motor....due to regular GTX. Then my front timing chain tensioner caught my attention. It had no pad on it. Correct, no pad. I stared at it wondering how it could operate like that with no audible indication....as the motor sounded great and was perfectly quiet.

So, the chain had been wearing into the metal on the tensioner...great, who knows where that metal went. Hopefully into the filter.

Being that it had been 80k since I put together the front end of the motor, and knowing I would need to pull the belt to get it all apart I ordered a new CPS, timing belt, and waterpump.

I then began tearing apart the fromt of the motor...got all the covers off and found that coolant had just begun to seep out of the lower weep hole on my water pump. Well, good timing, I guess.

I'll upload pics later.....these cars never cease to amaze me.

I was foolish to think I would take my SHO apart for something simple and all would go as planned....but I am glad that I found it when I did. I hate to think about how long I had been driving with that chain digging into the metal plate....

Doug

 

[white93atx]

Yeah, why would you think anything would be simple. Did you find the chain tensioner pad?

 

[SHOtimer]

Yeah, why would you think anything would be simple. Did you find the chain tensioner pad?

No, it wasn't in the head. I'm sure it is sitting in the oil pan. The oil pan seal is still perfectly dry after 80k, so that pad can just stay there, as I am not disrupting that seal.

It was very easy to make sure the oil pan sealed perfectly when the motor was upside down on an engine stand...and i'm not going to try it under the car, I did that once and it sucked.

Doug

 

[Eric VerValin]

That sounds pretty standard for a SHO. These are the things I like to point people to when they want to do something "simple" like change a thermostat. lol

Pretty sure I have a good looking tensioner or 2 if you need / want em. I know I have 1 at least.. don't recall seeing the other in the drawer tho...

 

[hawkeye18]

we have a term for that in the navy... "unscheduled maintenance discovered due to scheduled maintenance"... mal code U.

 

[SHOtimer]

Well, got the motor torn down and a good used tensioner installed (Thanks Eric!)...nice to have things going back together. I had heard rumors that people have not been able to replace the tensioner without pulling a cam. I did. You can't get the chain out without pulling a cam, but the tensioner you can.

Here is the new tensioner installed, with the old top half..


I'm not sure how long it had been running like that...but it appears it had been awhile:


This is a steady diet of GTX:


Ready to go back together with new seals, new timing belt idler (thanks www.shosource.com), timing belt, water pump, and CPS:


Oh, the fun of it all.

Doug

 

[llamaking122]

Well, got the motor torn down and a good used tensioner installed...nice to have things going back together. I had heard rumors that people have not been able to replace the tensioner without pulling a cam. I did. You can't get the chain out without pulling a cam, but the tensioner you can.

Here is the new tensioner installed, with the old top half..


I'm not sure how long it had been running like that...but it appears it had been awhile:


This is a steady diet of GTX:


Ready to go back together with new seals, new timing belt idler (thanks www.shosource.com), timing belt, water pump, and CPS:


Oh, the fun of it all.

Doug

atleast you have warm weather to do it though. is this your dd? gl with the rest

 

[SHOtimer]

atleast you have warm weather to do it though. is this your dd? gl with the rest

Warm weather!? Your crazy, it is in the 50's in my garage. That's cold!

The SHO retired several years ago from the DD life, for me. I'm still waiting on a few parts, hopefully have her running this weekend.

Doug

 

[raff18]

hey my cam chain thingies are makeing noise how did u do it without tearing it apart

 

[SHOtimer]

hey my cam chain thingies are makeing noise how did u do it without tearing it apart

Well, some further clairification is needed in regards to what you are asking?

How do you take apart the tensioners, or how do you take the tensioners out?

In order to remove the tensioners you have to unbolt the sprockets from the cams - and remove the timing belt. Once the sprockets are undone - it is easy to get the tensioner out at that point in time. With the rear head you can get the chain and tensioner out easy. With the front head in order to pull the chain you need to pull a camshaft. I had bought new chains but decided not to replace it because I didn't want to pull a camshaft.

I put these cams in when I built the motor and it is so easy to strip the threads on the head, I didn't want to take a chance.

Doug

 

[llamaking122]

Warm weather!? Your crazy, it is in the 50's in my garage. That's cold!

The SHO retired several years ago from the DD life, for me. I'm still waiting on a few parts, hopefully have her running this weekend.

Doug

ha youre funny! i wish it was 50 lol how far north are you in cali

 

[SHOtimer]

ha youre funny! i wish it was 50 lol how far north are you in cali

I'm about 20 miles north of LA, so not very north at all.

Doug

 

[Eric VerValin]

Oh wow, yea those other ones were long gone.. lol Glad to know another SHO has been saved.. So since today is MLK day, I'm assuming it got there Saturday? Not bad for USPS I'd say..

 

[SHOtimer]

Oh wow, yea those other ones were long gone.. lol Glad to know another SHO has been saved.. So since today is MLK day, I'm assuming it got there Saturday? Not bad for USPS I'd say..

Yea, got here saturday, not bad at all, thanks again for that!

Doug

 

[SHOtimer]

Well, got her back together last night and she fired right up on the first crank. Smooth and quiet.

I must say that the guys (Kurt & Mike) at www.shosource.com - were absolutely awesome. They got me a 'rebuilt' timing belt idler bearing, one of their new ATX products. It was great to put a new bearing on, as I found my old one was on its last legs. A nice quality piece.

It was also nice to have a new Ford thermostat in there and ECT. Instead of taking 5 miles to warm up, she only takes about one (original cats w/ 230k, and i'd like to keep it that way).

So, what started out with a thermostat and valve cover gasket replacement turned into:
Thermostat, valve cover gaskets, ECT, front main, CPS, timing belt, water pump, timing belt idler bearing, and timing chain tensioner.

She runs like a champ and ready for another 60k (hopefully) before she has to be opened back up!

Doug