07 F-150 5.4l Cams
10-02-2014, 07:55 PM
#11
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By itself, not at first. It is an indication of either low oil pressure to the timing chain tensioners, or a tensioner that has failed. Every time it rattles, the chains are slapping against the chain guides. The guides are plastic and will eventually break. The broken pieces can clog the oil pump pick up screen, and that is definitely a big deal.
If it's been knocking and rattling for a while, I would replace all the timing components as soon as possible to try to avoid any major engine damage. These tensioners can fail causing low oil pressure to the head, which messes everything up if it's not caught in time. Your best bet is to use all Motorcraft parts (Dorman phasers are known to fail prematurely), and replace the timing chains, tensioners, guides, phasers and VCT solenoids at the same time. There are a bunch of threads about this issue. I suggest reading up on it.
If it's been knocking and rattling for a while, I would replace all the timing components as soon as possible to try to avoid any major engine damage. These tensioners can fail causing low oil pressure to the head, which messes everything up if it's not caught in time. Your best bet is to use all Motorcraft parts (Dorman phasers are known to fail prematurely), and replace the timing chains, tensioners, guides, phasers and VCT solenoids at the same time. There are a bunch of threads about this issue. I suggest reading up on it.
and that could mean new heads also. We're going to take the valve covers off this weekend and look. We'll try and see if there's any slack in the timing chain also.
Yes, we've also tried that.
10-13-2014, 12:58 AM
#12
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Sorry for not getting back for a while. We finally got time to take a look under the valve covers again. First thing we noticed was that there was defiantly some scoring on the cams. We took a couple of the clamps that hold the cams in to one of my dads friends that works at a local Ford dealership (he has a little more experience) and he said it's not the worst he's seen, but it's definitely not good. We also noticed that there is quite a bit of slack in the timing chain, not surprising.
So our plan is to get an entire new motor instead of rebuilding this one. That way we can swap it out in a few days and not be without a vehicle for a couple weeks.
We're also going to get some new cams for it to gain a little power. Probably the COMP Cam XFI NSR. What else could we do to get a little more power? We may even go with the VSR cam and upgrade the springs too.
The only other upgrade we're going to do is install some long tube headers. I've been wanting to do it for a while and knew it was a pain, so what better time to do it? Also, I do have a Hypertech Max Energy programmer on my truck now. I think after the cams, a K&N Intake, and increased exhaust flow, a custom tune may be benificial?
So our plan is to get an entire new motor instead of rebuilding this one. That way we can swap it out in a few days and not be without a vehicle for a couple weeks.
We're also going to get some new cams for it to gain a little power. Probably the COMP Cam XFI NSR. What else could we do to get a little more power? We may even go with the VSR cam and upgrade the springs too.
The only other upgrade we're going to do is install some long tube headers. I've been wanting to do it for a while and knew it was a pain, so what better time to do it? Also, I do have a Hypertech Max Energy programmer on my truck now. I think after the cams, a K&N Intake, and increased exhaust flow, a custom tune may be benificial?
10-14-2014, 02:48 PM
#14
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If you're building an engine to swap in I would get some nice cams, long tubes for sure, and have the heads port and polished while you're at it. Long tubes will be the biggest gain, but you'll get another couple from cams, and more never hurts