Hello all,
I'm getting ready to drive my new to me car from Florida to Ct, but you all have me convinced I need to replace the secondary tensioners before I even start this car again. There is a Ford dealer right down the Street from me and I checked to see if he had them. He said the only Dealer that had 2 in stock was in NC.
So my question is, for some reason the Lincoln's that use this engine do not have this problem? Would seem if they did most Dealers would have these parts in stock?
By the way, they listed at around $85 each

 

The Lincolns that use these tensioners don't have the problem because they used the upgraded metal tensioners from the start - it's the earlier plastic ones that give the trouble - those were only fitted to the earlier Jaguar engines. You can buy them online from many sources - just google or go to Ebay.

 

The early LS/Thunderbirds had the same plastic tensioners and the same problems in '99, '00 and early '01. Ford/Lincoln seemed to have switched to metal sometime before Jaguar did in August '01 but I have never been able to nail down that date.

A lot of Ford/Lincoln dealers have the cam alignment tools in their house tool locker for that very reason. Several have been able to borrow them for a big box of donuts or a pizza lunch.

Any dealer should be able to get the parts overnight but considering this is Saturday evening that may be Tuesday. The on-line Ford/Lincoln dealers generally have prices of $60 or less plus shipping.

Current eBay pricing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Secondary-Ti...65d369&vxp=mtr

I saw this package that included the bolts a few days ago but cannot find it at the moment. You will need the shorter bolts (4) which should be available at any Ford store for less than $5.

 

Just curious, where in Florida will you be coming to get the car (and when)?

 

I bought the car in Miami and its at a friends house in Boca Raton right now. I will be in Florida next week to put some miles on it before I head North. Won't be bringing it to CT until this weather gets better

 

I highly recommend using the auto train that goes form Orlando to DC if you want to avoid putting nearly 1000 miles on the car.

Auto Train Transports You and Your Car - Lorton, VA - Sanford, FL | Amtrak

 

just ship it home, cost about 700-1k bucks.

 

Looks like there's even a market for your old tensioners over there -

Timing Chain Kit w Crankshaft Sprockets Belt Tensioners XJ8 XK8 1999 | eBay

"PLASTIC PIECES HAVE SMALL CRACKS"

Sounds like a bargain

 

Lol we got lots of snow. Not good for rear wheel drive cars. 😃

 

You will also need to purchase the valve cover gaskets.
I am in the area and have the alignment tools. Let me know if I can be of help.

 

SNG Barret has the tensioners at a great price... and I bought my gasket set at Amazon... all in it was less than $250 for the parts (not including oil and filter). The tensioners are around $70 each (w/o shipping) and the gasket set is $60... if you are just doing the secondary tensioners then the zip-tie method works flawlessly.

 

Despite several requests for you model year over several threads you have never provided that info.

If you have a '99 - '02 XK8, which is the most common ones then a FelPro gasket set for a '02 Lincoln LS 3.9L can be had at Advance Auto Parts for under $40 using the discount code TRT30.

 

Incredible!

 

Thanks everyone, and test point it is a 2001 XK8 convertible with 70,000 miles, Florida car

 

I'll let my broken tensioners go for $25 Canadian, and if you pick them up I'll throw in a beer.

 

I had a set of "barely cracked" tensioners I would have given away to a good home, but tensioner thieves broke into our garage and made off with them. Tensioner thieves are a growing problem in this part of the country. My advice is to hang a well worn copy of a J C Whitney catalog in front of the garage. They will assume you are a cheapskate and move on.