AMVF150

I’m doing a complete timing job on the 2007 f150 5.4 3V. The camshafts still look good but for 235k and already being in here I’m just replacing both camshafts. I didn’t know if I also need to replace the cam towers and/or the cam caps and new bolts? I would assume at least cam caps would need to be replaced bc of potential wear from old cam but I want to know since I’m already in here and not wanting to come back in here again. Also, is there anything else I should be doing for prepping the camshafts since these will be new?

BareBonesXL

AMVF150

Thank you sir. He’s an absolute 5.4 genius. I’m actually following his 4 part timing series now but no mention of the replacement of cam caps when replacing the camshafts. From this video it appears he just reused the cam caps but also makes no mention of it so not entirely sure. As for the cam towers, those I’ve since confirmed are not serviceable so you would need a new head if there was an issue with them or you wanted to replace those.
My followers are still solid but I got all new ones anyways to replace. I’ll keep looking out for a post here to confirm the cam cap question. Thanks again.

BareBonesXL

I watched one of his 5.4 videos where he specifically talked about the cam bearings. I think it was one where he was fixing another shop's work. He said that all of the cam bearings he sees have some scoring but they don't need replacing. He even mentioned that the caps are the worst because they see the force of the valve springs.

Try to find one of his video where he's working on a truck that just had a bunch of work already done at another shop. It's in there somewhere.

AMVF150

Alright I’ll try and find it. I love his videos but he doesn’t always title them with specific keywords to easily find this stuff.

BareBonesXL

Found it. Start at 3:00 if you're in a hurry.

DrTriton

You cannot replace the cam caps, they are machined with the head and need to go back in the same location (and orientation) as they were removed from. If they are heavily scored you should replace the head.

If the cams still look good dont waste your money on new ones, they generally aren’t a wear item.

AMVF150

I wish you were very wrong but I’ve discovered that’s not the case here. So, I’m a bit confused. I watched this video from Ford Tech Makuloco and he talks about wear on the right side cam caps bc of blown out tensioners starving engine for oil and the right side being the last to get the oil so that’s why they wear first. When I pulled mine, the right side cam caps really don’t look bad at all can barely feel any scoring with the finger nail. It’s the left side cam caps that have what I think some serious scoring, which I’m worried could mean I need a new head…anyways neither of my tensioners were blown out and none of the roller followers were bad and all the lash adjusters were firm so not sure how the cam caps got scored as I assume it was from a lack of oil. I did have the oil squish out under the cam cap on the left camshaft as he shows in this video (but his was right side). I’ve attached pics of the underside of the cam caps from the left side to show as best I could. Some areas you can see seem to be a bit deep with the scoring. So my followup questions to all this is although Ford Tech Makuloco says some scoring is normal, if I don’t want to buy a new head and go through all that hassle or deal with an engine swap because I already have 235k on this engine and I’m just trying to push out another 75k-100k if possible, what could happen if I put new camshafts in there with this timing job, the melling pump, new lash adjusters, new roller followers, and reuse the cam caps putting them in their original location and orientation? I’m really not wanting to dig deeper than I have in this truck. My understanding, despite already being this far into the engine is that removing the heads is one hell of a job. If it was a simple removal, I’d pull them but doesn’t seem that way.

AMVF150

Thank you! I’ve seen this one before but forgot all about this one. Guess I have some decisions to make…..

DrTriton

The scoring is pretty typical, it’s the excessive clearance you don’t want. Remove the followers, put some plasti-gauge on top of the cam journals, re-install the caps, torque them then remove them and verify your actual clearance. The original factory spec is .002 - .004 inch.

Only replace the cams if any of the lobes are chewed up from roller follower failure as he states. Check for worn follower bearings as well…I would replace those before replacing the cams.