mod 4.6 build times?

[Ritter]

anybody have any idea (roughly) how much time it takes to build a 4.6 dohc from bare block? it is from a 99 cobra. I have never built a motor like this, it is going to be stock, nothing aftermarket on the inside. I have plenty of experience, ive just never touched a 4.6 dohc. also, any tech tips for the build or anything pertinent i should know from the seasoned builder? I will have the ford manual, alldata, and mitchell on demand. let me know what you guys think for time length... thanks!

[9secondGT]

Make sure you mark the chains BEFORE you take it apart. The alignment mark on the crank gear goes staight down and then make sure you mark the chains on the heads that connects the cams together. Other than that, its pretty much like any other engine build.

Good luck, Jim

[Ritter]

hmmm yeah...the guy that tore her down was an idiot. and guess what he didnt do!

[Ritter]

thanks for the info.

[scjfox]

Use the Ford manual. Youll probably have to either find some to barrow or buy the cam timing tools to get everything lined up right if he didnt mark stuff. You may get lucky, if you find the brass links on the chains and get things lined up you may be fine, and if you cant find them, itll say how many links it should be from mark to mark, its 30 on a 2v, but not sure on the 4v. Just take your time, give yourself a day or two and make sure to double and triple check stuff if you have done this before. I can build one in a couple hours taking my time, but, Ive been through alot of mod motors

[KenB]

Not sure what you guys are talking about, but there is absolutely no reason to mark the chains when you take it apart. There is also no reason to 'hope' you get lucky and find the brass links. All you have to do is fold the chain in half and mark each link on the end and you are good to go.

Ken

[scjfox]

We're giving the guy some easy ways to double check whats hes doing since hes never done it before. For you and me, its not a problem, but I know the first time I took one apart and retimed it I was pretty worried about the whole deal.

[KenB]

We're giving the guy some easy ways to double check whats hes doing since hes never done it before. For you and me, its not a problem, but I know the first time I took one apart and retimed it I was pretty worried about the whole deal.


I agree, it can be intimidating but I'd rather give him solid advice and I don't think marking everything when you take it apart is a good idea. Because if you don't know what you are doing, then marking it will be tough.

The easiest way to handle it is to do it the right way from the start, which doesn't including marking it first and trying to get it to look the way it was when you took it apart.

Ken

[ten5turbocoupe]

anybody have any idea (roughly) how much time it takes to build a 4.6 dohc from bare block? it is from a 99 cobra. I have never built a motor like this, it is going to be stock, nothing aftermarket on the inside. I have plenty of experience, ive just never touched a 4.6 dohc. also, any tech tips for the build or anything pertinent i should know from the seasoned builder? I will have the ford manual, alldata, and mitchell on demand. let me know what you guys think for time length... thanks!
By "stock" I'm under the impression that the engine will have stock connecting rods with the torque to yield bolts. The engine shouldn't take much longer to assemble than a pushrod engine. Figure about an extra 3 hours or so. Just take your time and follow the manual. Also, Ken is right on the chains. Flatten them out and mark the end links. Don't over-complicate the deal.

[Ritter]

sweet! I ordered the TTY bolts for the mains (ouch!) and am going to get them on wednesday. it looks pretty straightforward. also, what should i do about lining up(and holding in place) the cams when i am setting the timing marks? thanks!

[GS400]

Not sure what you guys are talking about, but there is absolutely no reason to mark the chains when you take it apart. There is also no reason to 'hope' you get lucky and find the brass links. All you have to do is fold the chain in half and mark each link on the end and you are good to go.

Ken


GREAT ADVICE!!!

[boosteddarkhors]

sean hyland has a book out it can be found in most auto parts stores. Sean has worked on modulars basically since their introduction. im sure that you would find it useful

[ten5turbocoupe]

sweet! I ordered the TTY bolts for the mains (ouch!) and am going to get them on wednesday. it looks pretty straightforward. also, what should i do about lining up(and holding in place) the cams when i am setting the timing marks? thanks!
Cams should rotate in their bores while you are lining up the timing marks. Don't install the followers until you have the chains, guides and tensioners installed. OTC makes cam holding tools for holding the cams still while you torque the cam bolts. If it's a real stocker then the stock cam bolts should be fine. ARP makes a replacement cam bolt if you're so inclined. Mains and head bolts are TTY so just follow the procedure outlined in the manual.

Be sure you prime the oil pump before bolting the pan on. Do the pan last. Heads and valve covers should be installed before the pan. Fill the oil pump through the pickup tube and rotate the engine by hand a few times. Once you're satisfied that the pump and pickup tube are full, bolt the pan on then turn the engine over and fill it with oil. It'll keep the oil pump from knicking one of the gears when it's first fired.

Good Luck.

[vrtical]

Be sure you prime the oil pump before bolting the pan on. Do the pan last. Heads and valve covers should be installed before the pan. Fill the oil pump through the pickup tube and rotate the engine by hand a few times. Once you're satisfied that the pump and pickup tube are full, bolt the pan on then turn the engine over and fill it with oil. It'll keep the oil pump from knicking one of the gears when it's first fired.

what? Just pack the oil pump gears with vasoline and use a air pressurized container with oil and hook it to one of the oil filter adapter ports. This will get oil to the heads and everything else before startup.

[ten5turbocoupe]

Then there's that option. Ask five people about building these things and you'll get five different options. :D

[Ritter]

haha, sounds good either way! i ordered a new oil pump due to the side of the pump gears being scratched up, I heard stories about the pump not priming if not packed with something like vaseline(no suction), but the idea of tipping it and filling the pickup sounds interesting also.