Greetings,
if anyone is interested, the timing chain snapped after 109k miles! Took out the bottom of the cover/ housing also. What a shi**y job. Will post when completed. Hey Aerocolorado, ever do this?
Later,
Reever

 

Reever,
Sorry to say, I have not enjoyed that particular delight. (knocks wood).

As far as I know, you're the first to ever experience that problem around here. I have to know, when this all started with the water pump, how did you get the van into the garage - a tow or wrecker? And, when (or how) did the engine actually stop running - any warning signs beforehand?

Truly bizarre situation. We'll all collectively lift our beers in a rousing show of support as you toil away. CHEERS!

 

Hey Aerocolorado,
After changing the water pump and putting everything back together, I attempted to start the van, and nothing happened. The Vehicle was dead as the proverbial "door nail". In hind sight, while the engine was turning over to start , I heard a very quick and distint noise from the front of the van. I assumed this was the PCV return hose hitting the fan. (I have forgotten to install the hose onto the intake snorkel on numerous occasions, thus my initial thought of the hose!) But I had tucked the hose up under the harnesses below the vent area. I attached the hose to the snorkel and didn't even think about the noise again.
I am assuming now the noise was the chain breaking loose!!!
Getting everything off the front of the engine Saturday was a bit of a task. ( I am doing this in front of my house in the street. Fortunately , nice quiet residential neighborhood!) My main problem now is that when the chain broke, it busted out the bottom of the timing cover housing, just below where the crankshaft comes through.
So now I ordered a new timing cover housing from Ford for $80.00,( very reasonable, used in my area is $75.00 average) and new sprocket and chain set for $23.00. (again beating advaced and ABC) Gasket set(s) will be from American Battery for approximately $44.00.
So Saturday will be beers (mass quantities of Samuel Adams) and timing. I'll post back when I' m done!
By the way, this is an awesome site! Very good information, and God knows I can use the Help!!
Later,
Reever

 

I had a thought, a particularly nefarious one.

Are those bolts on the water pump all the same size, or are there ones that are longer than the others? Is it possible a longer one could have wound up in the wrong hole and snagged the timing chain?

 

Good question, but not likely. The water pump does use longer bolts to hold both the pump and timing cover housing to the block. Where the pump crosses over the timing chain though, Ford uses a smaller bolt. The hole for these smaller bolts is not tapped thru the timing cover housing. I thought of that too.

I can see on the lower part of the cover housing where the interior links (i believe there are 5 or 6 links inside of the 2 outer links) actually scored the housing. It looks as if maybe some of these interior links were broken for some time. It also looks as if some of the interior links have "cleaner breaks" That is to say these were the last ones to break. The "dirty" breaks could have been soaking in the oil for some time. Its just a theory at this point.
Needless to say, it has been an experience this last week.