BA XR8 - The startup noise is starting to sound more grindy and annoying. Im worried that its going to damage the engine. So a visit to Bayfords results in me being told I'd be footing a bill of $3,300 to change to steel timing chain tensioners.WTF!! I dunno what those Ford guys are on. Or is it really that big a job?

Is there anyone that knows someone, or anyone that is capable of doing he job at a more reasonable rate? Im located in Ararat,Vic - but make regular trips to Melb.

ouch man bpt over here were gonna charge like $1200 to do mine but that sounds like they want to change chains and sprokets aswell
its not that hard a job took me bout 5 hours with a bit of help from me bro

Do it yourself man. It's easy! It took me a few hours but I changed the oil pump at the same time so the majority of time was trying to get the oil pump pickup bolts back on without dropping the sump...f**k nightmare! but I got it done.
Here's some photo's of the job that I did on another forum but I lost the remaining photos unfortunately. If you just change the tensioners and nothing else it's pretty easy.

Ok here's the start;



Plenum off so i can get the LH rocker cover off.
Watch the vac lines underneath.



The workshop manual says to remove the brake lines from the master cyl to get the RH rocker cover off!?! I managed to wiggle it round enough to get it off without doing that!



The LH one is easier but the harness at the back does give you the s**t a bit...I took the PCM off which allowed me to move the harness easier.



Here it is with it's clothes off. They say to disconnect the A/C compressor but it wasn't actually required. the pwr steer does need to come off though.



Here's the culprit.



and the other one.



Here's one compared to the new cast iron one.



And the back side...



Apparently the links on the chains are supposed to be marked by copper outer links at the timing marker points but for some reason mine were not(maybe something to do with this being a Ford Pilot vehicle #P005?).
Once the chains were marked the timing setup was straightforward....although the manual wrongly states(in several places!?!) to turn the engine over counter clockwise!?!
Please note; you should be able to change the tensioners without taking the chains off. I had to because I was doing the oil pump too.
I have pdfs of the workshop manual if anyone wants it?

nice little write up there pete.
and yea its a relatively straight forward job. i was going to do mine when my phasor collopsed but considering i had to have it all done and ready to drive the next day i didnt.

hi mate, i had mine done a few weeks ago at BPT but im in WA. i was expecting about $1600 for the tensioners and guides cause it was making a pretty nasty noise most mornings. The guys put the ones out of the boss 290 in cause they used the metal version which xr9ute put in. but it ended up being just over $1100 which was good. well worth it though to not here the grinding and slapping each morning.

Before talking to BPT i went to an automasters service centre and the mechanic told me that it would be a couple grand and probly wasnt even worth doing cause its common with the 260's. but it can do a fair bit of damage if let go for too long. so i reckon just talk to a ford specialising mechanic/peformance centre in vic and see if they can do it cause i bet theyve done it numerous times and would have it down pat

I just got the Ford Racing M-6004-544A timing chain set from the USA (Summit racing) it ended up under AUD400 delivered. Includes all chains, guides and tensioners.

Have also ordered the O-rings for the coolant pipes that seem to leak a little and will do them at the same time. Am wondering if it's worth buying replacement seals for the chain cover and front main seal as well just on the safe side.

Either way I think I'll be down about $500 for parts and then between 4 and 6 hours of labour or DIY. probably puts me about $500-$1000 ahead of having a workshop source the parts, and easily $2000 less than buying from Ford.

The front cover seals etc are pretty tough. I didn't change them when I did mine.

Just to confirm (prior to my ordering) I have just come off the telephone with the tech line at Ford Racing Performance Parts regarding the M-6004-A544 Camshaft Timing Chain Kit. When I asked if the tensioners in the kit are the upgraded cast iron ratchet type, they advised me that the tensioners in this kit are plastic i.e. the problem type. In their defence they were very helpful, and have taken a note of my e mail address so they may look into it and advise. Can anyone from FORDMODS confirm this kit definitely has the upgraded tensioners - I'm not second guessing those of you who have purchased this kit, just covering all the bases before I get it shipped to the UK for my early (no.19) BA Pursuit

Thanks

These guys know their stuff. Maybe confirm what's best with them?
http://www.modularmotorsportsracing.com ... ath=4_9_51

Thanks XR9UTE

Seeing as you have already done yours and know what was worn etc another question if I may. My wagon has only just clicked over 9,000k's (5,500 miles in proper money) so, if I understand the timing chain start up rattle problem correctly, do you reckon I can get away with changing just the two primary tensioners (which I understand are the culprits) to the upgraded metal items, and all four guides (for good measure) rather than buying the whole kit? (the kits appear to include the standard plastic primary tensioners, with the upgraded ones being a further purchase - due to the time difference I haven't rang MMR to confirm yet but it is looking this way)

Cheers

All sorted, spoke with the guys at MMR, the complete Ford manufactured kit includes the upgraded metal primary tensioners at $399 (American) all in, so not bad compared to the $1300 (Australian) quoted to me by an Aussie Ford dealership

No worries ukfpv,

Yes the secondary chains are rarely a problem.
So did someone import that Pursuit or did you do it yourself?

Well, I had owned two AU LPG utes prior to the arrival of no.19, and was in Sydney for a couple of months in 2007 when I spotted a Cobra ute in a dealership showroom, which brought FPV to my attention. In 2013 I happened to be Google-ing 'FPV' one Sunday afternoon (as you do) when an advert for a one owner FPV Pursuit came up with I think 4,500 miles on the clock at the time (had been used sparingly for trailering some type of race car to and from circuits I believe) not too far from where I live, so off I went for a nose, and after a bit of negotiation and gathering of pennies together, I came home with her

Initially (about which I wasn't aware anyway) the owner had 'stored in a safe place' the FPV Compendium folder which comes with these vehicles, however, this was later found/turned up, and the first owner was kind enough to send it on to me, so now I have literally everything paperwork wise (supplying dealer invoices, import papers etc) to do with this vehicle from birth, which is always good to have

She's in really good shape as well, every now and then she rattles on start up but that's it

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Made a template and had some fitted mats produced

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Built a tidy home for it

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Bloody Bewdiful !!!

Thanks buddy

Yeah, I like it. It's a fair weather wagon owned purely for my own selfish indulgence (for which to be honest I make no apology) so it does lead a cosseted life - I'm not really into attention seeking but it does tend to have that effect over here - a keeper I reckon