I bought a 1999 F-150 tonight with the 4.2L and automatic transmission. I was wondering when the timing chain is scheduled for replacement? It has 117,000km, excellent condition, and well maintained. If anyone could help me out and let me know anything you think I should know.

 

I checked my chiltons and my service manual. There is no interval for changing them. Normaly there is check that can be done to see how stretched it is, but I could not find that check either. In the older vehicles the timming chains where changed between 120,000 and 150,000 miles. But I am not sure on the new engines. I checked my references though. Hope I helped in some way.

Lance

 

It's getting to be a thing of the past to change one.

 

Is the 4.2L a cam-in-block engine? Back not that many years ago, when every engine had a distributor, checking degrees of timing chain slack was easy. Then distributors disappeared. I figured out a method myself on how to check timing chain slack on Chrysler 3.3/3.8L distributorless V6's without really taking anything apart. Wrench on the crankshaft pulley bolt, and a dial indicator on a rocker arm end, reached down through the oil fill cap on the valve cover. Don't know if that is possible on your engine or not. It also required some careful measuring, and applying some math. Both are easy for me.