Hi All,

I have a 97 that I bought with leaking cam covers and planning the gasket swap so want to be prepared with tensioners in hand if mine turn out to be original 1st gen style, as I suspect they are.

I have done my reading about the secondary tensioner job and about all the places to buy from online stores and ford stores. I often use a AdvanceAutoParts store that has an order online pickup in store or mail to home and save 30% discount deal, so I checked them for the ford part.

Does anyone buy the aftermarket ones sold at the local auto parts stores for ford vehicles?

I called the store to see if they could tell me what part manufacture makes them, but it only showed them store brand Car Quest. Curious if anyone attempted these aftermarket ford and feels they are good quality or not. I would suspect they are the same sold by many of the online suppliers and ebay sellers as they could still be making money.

Seems like not the part to get too cheap and cause major damage, but the cheapo in me can't help myself at $30 each I had to ask.

 

AFAIK, There's only one manufacturer of the 3rd Gen Metal Body Tensioners, regardless of where they're sold. Also, be sure to get the Shorter Mounting Bolts that mount the New Secondary Tensioners.

 

I bought mine from Christophers Foreign Car Parts.
Excellent prices and service. He also runs ads on Fleabay with excellent package deals.




Dave

 

+1 on christopher's treated me right, excellent shipping speed and zero hassle.

 

Just for grins I put the secondary tensioners and the valve cover gasket set for a '02 Lincoln LS 3.9L into my Advance AP shopping cart and applied the TRT41 discount code that is good until 5/31/16. Total, including shipping and local sales tax (7%) was $124.09.

You are not going to beat that anywhere! I paid more than that for the Ford boxed tensioners alone 6 years ago.

If you have been waiting due to cost there is no reason to wait any longer.

Tight Wad Tom

 

I have been using the TRT30 (30% off) and TRT41 ($40 off $100 or more) codes for years. You just have to shop around to be sure they are not high on a few items. Just depends if you are buying over $50 or over $100 where the TRT41 kicks in, you have to pay attention to what you are buying a little over $100 and the TRT30 kicks back in as the best deal. I have never been able to beat the deal on buying $50 list worth of parts online applying TRT30 and picking up at the store by the time it takes to drive there for all the basic stuff.


I have a 97 and can't use the same valve cover gaskets as the later ones that match the ford ones.

Hey Test Point hope I can get my 97 looking that good. Poor thing is in bad need of some paint booth lovin. PO and Texas sun equals no clear left on hood and trunk.

SNG B has the best price I have been able to find for the 97 style large cover gaskets. Just got my first order from them. Great shipping speed, and quality service.


RockAuto beats them all on the 28 little bolt washers.


Many have the 97 style spark plug seals at a low price.


The AAP counter guy can help you with the WorldPac orders and here anyway get same or next day delivery to the store, no shipping costs. Unfortunately the WorldPac stuff is not available for further discount.

 

Have any of you used the SNG main cover gaskets for the early style 97-? that are different than the ford one? Thicker I read on a post.

Did they seal and hold up?

My guess is same material in a different package... Need to order this week and they seem to be best price on them.

 

Another quick question for you guys. Ordered new tensioner and was planning on picking up the ford number but the ford parts guy says no one carrying them.

Is there a design difference in old bolts, or can I cut them down if I can't find some other than ford in the next couple days?

 

No other difference except length.

They should have a flange on the head to avoid
chewing up the aluminum.

 

I would rather spend $4 for bolts but no luck after 6 phone calls. Flange head is the deal killer, nobody has them. Guess I will plan on cutting down bolt, if the original was a flange.
Thank again

 

BTW, I figure the torque values were established for the flange head.

A hex head would tend to dig into the aluminum and throw the values
off.

Cap head socket screws are round ... maybe those can be found?

Hindsight is 20-20 ... Christopher's supplied me with hex head

 

The front timing cover bolts are the same length (35mm) as the shorter tensioner bolts.
Timing cover bolts=JFB10607B M6X35mm
Sec Tens 35mm Bolts=JFB10607E M6X35mm (supersession) newer part number

I don't know if the bolt grading are different but the M6 X 1.00 X 35mm are the same otherwise.

I never looked at the bolt head to see if one was 8.8 or 10.8????????

I have used one of the timing cover bolts in a pinch.

bob

 

cover and spark plug/center bolt combo
SNG best price I could find


Parts all in for the job if I got everything. Could one of you guys with experience check me on this one.

2 - tensioners left and right
28 - bolt washers
1 left and 1 right cam cover gasket
97 model so 4 sparkplug and center bolts combo
Guess I may just cut down the original bolts and clean them up with die, since I can't put my hands on the new ones due to my screw up not adding to order.

Did I read somewhere that there is one odd bolt each side in the cover? Does it use the same rubber washer? Have I missed a part?

I like the tensioners, they look like the photos I have seen of new version 3 style we should run. Do they look right to you guys that have installed them before?



They are different for sure. One left and one right.




Bolt gasket for outside of cam cover






A another view of one. I did notice that the stamps on side are missing as shown online on some sites




Other end.

 

Your local Ford/Lincoln dealer parts counter will have them for about $5.

 

I tried ford parts first as that was my plan to pick them up close to work when I realized I left them off my order. When I called they said none anywhere close and would have to have them shipped. I got the part number off the non-oem list so I assume it is the right one.

 

Advance autoparts was able to provide gen 3 tensioners and the shorter bolts. They own an import parts company called "World Pac" That division is wholesale to the trade but any advance store with a wholesale counter can access their cataloge and get OE or equlivent parts.

 

Hey Denny,
Second home is gulf coast FL. I got my tensioners from Advance Auto Parts, however I didn't order the WorldPac as I found they had the Ford ones listed. I purchase through online store used a discount coupon deal while buying some other stuff like anti-freeze for store pickup. Ending up free delivery and $30 dollars a piece. Put them in today and my 97 at 120K still had original Gen 1 style most likely the original build I assume. I meant to add new bolts to my SNG gaskets, however I am happy to say that the original bolts where fine when cut down to 35mm.