Truck ended up at Ford over the weekend. They tell me I got a major problem in the timing cover. They want $1200 just to remove the timing cover; no parts, just labor. I was thinking of doing all the timing chains, guides, tensioners, and phasers my self. Is there any special tools needed for the tensioners or anything?

 

I did all that myself without any special tools. Just time consuming!

 

How many miles on the Odometer when you did all that?

 

It's not a trivial job to change them. I know people say they did it quickly and it's no big deal, but those people are aliens. Or superheroes. Or something.

I'm doing it in my front yard. I'm getting there and it's definitely do-able, but it isn't as easy as falling off a log.

I have the Ford SHop manual, and here are the recommended "special" tools and their prices at an online store (freedom racing)

Installer, front cover oil seal 303-335 $243.28
Remover, crankshaft front oil seal 303-107 $106.47
Installer, crankshaft front oil seal 303-635 $91.95
Remover, crankshaft vibration damper 303-009 $175.95
Installer, crankshaft vibration damper 303-102 $120.04
Compressor, valve spring 303-1039 $189.00
Fan Clutch nut wrench 303-240 $66.34
Fan clutch pulley holding wrench 303-478 $58.44

Total: $1060.56 + tax/shipping

Now, how many of those are REALLY needed depends on your existing tools and knowledge and ingenuity. The crank vibration damper remover (or one like it) is an absolute must. You may be able to borrow something that works from AutoZone or something. And you don't need the valve spring compressor if you aren't doing the lash adjusters/roller followers.

I guess I'm saying that even though the shop charges a lot, they're doing a lot. On the other hand, if I can do it, you can do it. But it isn't easy or free.

 

Well I did the job this past weekend. Took 8 hours for my friend and I to do it. Must say I'm not impressed; 2 blown tensioners, 1 bad phaser, and 2 broken guides. I was fishing plastic out of the oil pan. But all said and done the job cost about $900 in parts, and the truck is quieter than when I bought it in '06.
Worse part was getting the passenger valve cover off. I just can't see how the dealer quoted $1200 just to remove the timing cover. That took only 2 hours to get off.

 

I am in process of replacing my chains and guides right now. I don't have any of the tools mentioned above outside of a standard Harmonical Balance puller and power steering pulley puller. One tool I could not find on short notice was the one to remove the transmission lines from the radiator. Ended up leaving it in. Though that list of tools would be nice to have but for a one time job (hopefully) it would be hard to justify $1,000 bucks.

That passenger side valve cover was definitely a B***h! My guides were in many pieces when i popped the front cover off and left side chain was close to flopping off.

If it weren't for that top starter bolt that was so hard to get to that I encountered while replacing the transmission I would have just as well pulled the whole motor out.