I have my truck rejuvenation thread going here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1804448-1979-ford-f-250-drivetrain-swap-questions.html

I have the radiator off because I had a small leak on the bottom so I needed to solder it. I figured why I had that out I will go ahead and replace the water pump, thermostat, and thermostat housing. I finished up the radiator solder last night and it seems to have fixed my leak.

I ordered my water pump and thermostat parts from RockAuto last week. I have read so many threads about replacing the water pump and thermostat, that my mind is mush right now. Unfortunately, when those parts came in today, the actual thermostat was missing from the thermostat box. So now I'm going to be waiting about a week for a rock auto to send me a replacement.

From reading way older threads, a lot of folks say that I should replace the timing chain and timing gears since I have the water pump off. I was not planning to do that, although it does make a lot of sense since I am in there. My thought is if it is not in bad shape or leaking, I should leave it alone right now and just get the water pump done.

As the people on this board probably know, going down the rabbit hole is a real thing. If I decide to take that timing chain cover off to do the gears and chain, should I just go ahead and replace the cam? Where does it end?!

This is me asking the people on this board who are a lot smarter than me at this, should I replace the timing chain and gears while I'm there? If so, what should I be looking at to buy to replace these factory gears and chain? I dropped the oil pan last week and put a new seal around that because it had been leaking. Hindsight being 20/20, if replacing the timing chain and gears was on the table, I probably should have done that when I had the pan off.

The engine has not turned over in 13 years so part of me doesn't want to sink a bunch of money into it buying those things until I can ensure the engine is going to run and run good without needing a rebuild. I've already spent about $1700 in parts and 100+ hours just to get to this step. If I get the water pump and thermostat on, I will hook up the radiator with all new hoses, replace the spark plugs/wires, and it should be real close to firing up. Money is not really the issue, but time is while trying to juggle a heavy workload and kids. Id turn wrenches on this old truck all day long if I could.

I know many of you have fought this same demon and I appreciate any advice.

 

How many miles are on it? Any signs of someone having been in there before?

Any broken pieces of a plastic cam gear in the oil pan when you pulled it?


I wouldn't replace the cam at this point.

 

Odometer shows 83,xxx, but that could be 183,xxx. Original owner was elderly and she did not know if it had ever turned over or not. I have not pulled the water pump yet. My hope was to do that this evening If I get the time. I'm a pretty mechanical guy, but I have never swapped out timing gears or a chain. I would have to watch some YouTube videos to figure that one out!

There was no pieces of foreign matter in the oil pan. Just a lot of oil sludge.

 

Replacing the timing chain involves taking off that flat plate that goes under the oil pan. did you say rabbit hole?

 

My point exactly since I just had the oil pan off and put a fresh gasket on it.

Again, I have read more threads on the subject than I can even keep track of. I am seeing both answers, some people say you can change the timing gear and chain without removing the oil pan and other people say that you have to remove the pan.