Looking For Opinions...
 

So, I picked up another 2003 4.6 recently. Imola Red, 189K(I KNOW!)overall ok condition. Bought it in non running condition, $2k. He broke the threaded part of the vanos solenoid housing off and tried to glue it back on. Moron, to say the least. Said it was running, solenoid came loose and he parked it. I took it apart this weekend and on the 5-8cylinder head, the vanos unit and timing wheel bolt had backed out. Right away, I am like, oh shit. Turned it over by hand and the intake came is not moving. Compression test, nothing. Intake manifold off, all 8 intake valves bent. Did compression test on 1-4 side and have 140psi+. So, I am going to take the head off, get a valve job. Remove the pan, take a couple of rod caps off and look at bearings. The guides were supposedly done recently, I will confirm. Will be taking valve cover off 1-4 side and will do the cam timing on reassembly. I have a couple of spare heads. Does anyone know if the heads/cams are unique to the 4.6? And, thoughts on my plan? I am going to be doing valley pan and other associated gaskets while I am there to assure they are all new. Took a gamble on this one, and got bit a little bit, but I am hoping worth the effort.

good on you for saving a 4.6is. too many are with lazy owners who part them out. The cams and Vanos are unique to the 4.6is.

sounds like amayor project... but it's a great looking car and I know from experience they are lots of fun to drive :)

I helped rebuild m62tu where chain broke while running. About 1/3 the valves bent but we bought the car for $950 and had a spare parts engine so took off both heads and harvested enough valves to make a working motor.

Look on realoem for part number on the head it will show what other models use it.

We were able to mix and match heads so we picked two of the four that looked the best but didn't need machining. Heads were not damaged from the bent valves.

I spun each valve in a drill to confirm which were still ok. Some slightly bent were hard to tell.

Oh I also used steel wool and scotch bright to clean each valve while spinning in the drill.

Ouch, but good on you for saving her. I actually broke the threaded part of the distribution piece on mine when reassembling it. Immediately after slapped myself and went on ECS to get a replacement.

Tried to glue it on? That's a new one.

Good on you for saving it. Looks like a nice truck from that one shot.

Andrew, I do have spare heads, interesting thoughts. Was going to take to machine shop for a complete valve job, but if I scavenge 8 good intakes from the other heads, give them a good "lapping", I could be good to go! You have me thinking. Took head off today, pics to follow....

carnage
 

Took head off today. Pistons look fine, but I am pretty sure when you take the cam out, valves aren't supposed to stay open.....Someone also stripped the vanos bolt that goes into the cam. And cam timing is so far off on 1.4 side it isn't even funny. I really wish people that can't afford or don't know what they are doing just stay away from projects like this. A little angry at peoples stupidity!!!

Yep
 

Everyday, I repeat, "you can't fix stupid..."

Yes, you did it the right way! This f$%(*#*# moron was told by a shop to glue it.....he said it worked for a while. I just can't comprehend someone being that stupid to even consider repairing it that way. As soon as I saw the timing wheel and bolt backed out on to the timing cover, I knew it wasn't good.

That is a beautiful specimen you have there! Good on ya for rescuing it.

Looks like a lot less damage than we went though. It seems just all the intake valves bent.

Wild how all so similar but from experience though there isn't room for valve open and piston in the same 3d volume when bent it apparently does have enough room it doesn't hit solid on the head and bend rods. Kind of like the internal engine fuse.

We just meausured for flat with a straightedge and picked the flattest head.

It was very satisfying to get the engine to run after reassembly.

My daughter was looking for her first car. I had a friend who had a well maintained 2003 4.4 with 129K that happened to have the timing chain tensioners go. (Well maintained other than the timing chain guides, lol) Unfortunately he drove it home a number of blocks...

Got it cheap enough and found a good decent mileage block for cheap. The idiot I bought the used block from had attempted to use what looked like some type of epoxy/gasket sealer on the OUTSIDE of every oil leak on the engine...

Completely disassembled it to inspect and sent the heads to the shop to have them inspected. Replaced 2 guides and valves.

Just got the timing chain and front cover on it last weekend. So I'm feeling your pain.

The glue it thing does remind me of a crazy story though.

I had a tire valve stem split wide open like a banana.

When I described what happened to wife she said "well don't you have some tape or something"?

(After the laughter subsides): hmm I do have some of that sticks only to itself tape I grabbed just as I was leaving the house thinking it might get me back to the hotel if a cooling hose springs a leak.

Ten minutes later: it was repaired with tape and we were on our way.

Day was saved by naivety.

Nice! I have some of that silicone tape, too. Haven't had a chance to use it on anything yet.

The prices for these X5 have come down to the price that anyone can buy one, but they can't afford to bring it to a dealership for repair, and they lack the mechanical know-how and tools to fix them properly. They come on a forum like this hoping for a cheap fix so that can be out driving their BM Double U again. End of Rant

My in-laws fix everything with scotch tape.

OK, looks like I now need a 4.6 intake cam. The flopping VANOS unit chewed up the end of the cam and no way to fix it......the fun continues. Anyone have anything? I have looked at the auction sites and will continue to peruse. Any help would be appreciated.