Hello, can you pull 2001 E-350 5.4 heads with engine in van?

A timing chain made a clackity clack sound at idle then the engine stopped. I'm thinking a tensioner failed & a timing chain jumped teeth & a valve kissed a piston. When I see which side skipped I hope to pull that head only. My machinist says he's seen these engines survive interference with only a valve or two needing replacement (especially when it happens at idle) but we'll see how the piston looks :/

Anyway, there's a YouTube vid of a guy pulling Triton heads with engine still in an E-250 by holding the head bolts in place with rubber bands (& cursing a lot!) but he says someone else reported that it wasn't possible on the E-350...he also commented: "It is hard to pull the heads off on one of these vans. I took the passenger seat out and it made it a little bit easier. Even some of the head bolts dont come all the way out. When you put the head back on some of the bolts have to be in the head before you put it on." https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kDg5mdHEl_Q

Many thanks in advance

 

Nevermind, today is my lucky day, it's only a seized AC pulley bearing. I never would've guessed that'd stop a V-8 engine without at least belt squealing & smoke or prevent the starter from cranking it over but I did myself a BIG favor by checking it after removing the belt & before tear down!

When I popped off the AC compressor pulley the remaining (very dry) ball bearings fell out so that's why it sounded like a bucket of bolts for a few seconds before seizing up (& why I feared it was a failed cam chain tensioner leading to interference).

Wow, idk if they're any good but a UAC CO101490C Compressor complete with clutch/pulley is only $110.62 shipped from Amazon.

BTW, a shorter Gates K060806 serpentine belt will let you drive in my situation by by-passing the AC pulley until you get to fixing it (or not). You just re-route the belt so the ribbed side of the belt runs on the smooth face of the upper idler pulley.
13/16" x 81-1/8" (20mm x 2061mm) $19.69 via Amazon Prime;

...& a few original type 1-1/8" wide belt choices for use WITH AC are:
-Motorcraft JK8996AA V-Ribbed Belt $28.79 Amazon free shipping;

-Dayco 5080990 3yr warrantee $36.99 @Autozone;

-DuraLast 990K8 or 1080990 1 yr warrantee $30.99 @Autozone.

...still curious if the heads are removable with the engine in place though...

 

My dad's got a 99 E350, so I've looked at the engine bay before. A couple of the exhaust manifold studs are missing, but it does not leak yet. Already decided That when they do go I'm pulling the engine and going through it. And I've done manifolds on my F250 and currently doing timing chains. I wouldn't even want to pull valve covers on a van.