I want to get a new timing chain housing for my 5.8 (1992 F250) because I have a coolant leak at the block. I don't want to take it apart and find out that need it because it's etched or whatever so I'm just going to buy one so I have the part there when I do the job. If there is any way I can return it because I absolutely don't need it, then I might.

The question here is, does anyone have any experience with buying an aftermarket housing like Dorman or NAPA? There is quite a huge price difference, like $200 or so with Ford OEM and $75 or less with aftermarket. I don't want to have problems during the install or later because of poor quality but I also don't want to spend an extra $125 if I don't need to. Plus if the old one is fine it may be more difficult to return the Ford part.

Thoughts?

 

No experience with aftermarket.

Nearly all SBFs as far as I've seen over the years here, report the "stink" of coolant or "loss" of coolant with out puddles under the engine.

This is mine:



Take it off, clean it up. I even ported mine a bit with a dremel.

If the faces of the the covers are rough, glue a piece of 600 grit to a plate of glass. Get it wet and give a circular clean up.



Use quality gaskets. Note that the plate gasket is not included in the FelPro "kit"

Mine hasn't leaked since.

Just some suggestions & good luck.

Truly it'd be better than laying out cash first & hoping to return painlessly.

 

+1 on what scndsin said. I use a thin bead of rtv on the housing surfaces to take care of any surface imperfections .

 

I replaced the one on my 460 with the dorman part. It was designed to fit multiple years of 460, so it came with a fuel pump block off plate, and a plug for the dipstick hole in the front. It also came with a new front seal. If I had access to a blasting cabinet I would have kept the original. Verify that the oil pan bolts are the same as stock. The 460 Dorman part has oil pan threads that are larger than the stock bolts, and uses studs instead. Problem is you can't install the cover with the oil pan installed, and the studs installed. I've been running around for two years now without the front four bolts holding the oil pan to the timing cover.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll give it a shot cleaning it up and hope it isn't too etched. It kind of looks like it's been removed once before which is why I'm skeptical of it's condition.