replacing the timing chain

[aramil]

what is involved? i have the timing chain, but do i need anything else like gaskets and such?

[willowbilly3]

FE? Of course gaskets and a new seal for the timing cover is a good idea, ask for a timing set. FE's don't have a pressed on balancer so you shouldn't need a puller.

[aramil]

yeah its a fe willowbilly. what needs to be removed to get to the timing chain? this is my first time working on an engine by myself and i dont have a manul or anything to guide me. so i need a timing cover seal? thank you for the help

[fomocoguy]

You will need water pump gaskets too. You will have to drain the radiator (there is a small drain valve on the bottom tank), loosen the belts, remove the water pump, remove the lower pulleys, and then remove the timing cover. Also you will want to turn the engine over using the crank bolt on front and a socket with a breaker bar or piece of pipe for leverage until the marks on the timing set are lined up (tdc) before you remove the set, that way you can reinstall the set easily by lining up the marks on the new set and just sliding it on.

[aramil]

thanks fomocoguy, im not too worried because i will be doing the work at a friends house and he has done this stuff before and will help me when i need it. so i need timing chain gaskets and seal and a water pump gasket is that it?

[aramil]

do i need the gasket set with the sleeve? i looked for a manual but couldnt find any.

[willowbilly3]

The sleeve that comes with that set is junk, very hard to install properly. If you need to sleeve the seal surface spend the extra $$ and buy it seperately.
BTW, I did mine in a motel parking lot, went for parts and had breakfast with a friend and was still all done by noon.
And if you can find a good timing set with three keyways on the crank gear, bump the valve timing foreward . In the early 70s Ford retarded the valve timeing 4 degrees for emissions. Putting it back will wake it up a little. On the 300 most guys go to the 4 degrees advanced notch.

[aramil]

thank you again willowbilly, the only local place that has the parts is napa and its $26 for the kit with seal and sleeve, the it without them is $16 and the seal alone is $13, i cant find the sleeve though.

what is the technical full name for the sleeve?

[willowbilly3]

Speedi-sleeve. The problem with the one in the kit is there is no good way to install it properly without damaging it. If you get the real speedi-sleeve it comes with an installation tool.

[My427stang]

I'll save you some head scratching and swearing.

1- Pull off any bracket that needs to let you get to the water pump
2 - Pull off the water pump
3 - Next lower pulley and balancer
4 - Take the key out of the crank that locates the balancer If you dont you cant get the spacer off
5 - Pull the spacer off, pull the fuel pump off
6 - Take the front cover off
7 - Replace the timing set, line up the dots
8 - Put the oil slinger back on the crank
9 - Replace the seal in the front cover
10 - Put the front cover on, with new gaskets, a little RTV on the corners of the oil pan but dont tighten
11 - Slip the spacer back onto the crank (with a little oil on the seal surface
12 - Tighten the front cover
13 - Reassemble everything else, be sure to put the crank key back in for the balancer

The ones in bold are the little tricks that are different for an FE

[heartless]

A-1 - Drain Coolant - FIRST...

I'll save you some head scratching and swearing.

1- Pull off any bracket that needs to let you get to the water pump
2 - Pull off the water pump
3 - Next lower pulley and balancer
4 - Take the key out of the crank that locates the balancer If you dont you cant get the spacer off
5 - Pull the spacer off, pull the fuel pump off
6 - Take the front cover off
7 - Replace the timing set, line up the dots
8 - Put the oil slinger back on the crank
9 - Replace the seal in the front cover
10 - Put the front cover on, with new gaskets, a little RTV on the corners of the oil pan but dont tighten
11 - Slip the spacer back onto the crank (with a little oil on the seal surface
12 - Tighten the front cover
13 - Reassemble everything else, be sure to put the crank key back in for the balancer

The ones in bold are the little tricks that are different for an FE

[My427stang]

LOL very good point!

[thebannister8]

a little off topic....what is the FE classification

[willowbilly3]

a little off topic....what is the FE classification

FE is the engines series designation that includes the 352, 360, 390 that our trucks could have had as original equipment. Lots of other variations exist too.

[mouse]

And if you can find a good timing set with three keyways on the crank gear, bump the valve timing foreward . In the early 70s Ford retarded the valve timeing 4 degrees for emissions. Putting it back will wake it up a little. On the 300 most guys go to the 4 degrees advanced notch.

I should have done that with mine but did not think about it and I did mine last night, I'll advance mine when I get a cam. the sa gear performance timing set has three keyways and $60 from advance. oh and let the chain soak in oil