rswright11

iTrader: (1)

Good luck! Keep us posted!!!!!!!!

GrimaceTimus

Found a gem of a PDF file ... for anyone that would like an extensive explanation of the 5.4L 3V VCT system here is a link to a PDF. Starting on page #47 (of the PDF), Page 3-11 of the training manual), there is some great information about the VCT system.

I was most interested in the VCT valve body and its oil passages. Awesome info.

http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...es/30n29f0.pdf

GrimaceTimus

Well...I am only half-way into the teardown and I can honestly say that I would have gladly maxed-out my credit-card to have someone else do this. What an incredible PITA.

I broke my passenger-side VCT solenoid trying to get the valve cover off. In hindsight, I would have gladly paid the $5 each for new solenoid seals and removed them before I even loosened a single valve cover bolt.

I DID get the passenger side cover off and here is what I found...





I'd say that phaser is pretty much brand new!!! WTF?!!? Yes, Mr. Private Seller...let me guess...your truck started making a sound you didn't like. You took it to a dealer and they replaced one or both of the phasers. Noise came back didn't it Mr. Private Seller? I bet you said... "I'm just gonna sell this damn truck and if the buyer notices the noise, I'll just tell him the same thing the dealership keeps telling me."

I am so pissed. I guess I'll finish getting it torn down so that I can determine what all was recently done. Check this out ...



I would say that phaser is getting really hot.

Now off to see if I can get that damn lower bolt on the power-steering reservoir bracket removed. Again...what a PITA! (It is 113F here today too....yea, fun).

GrimaceTimus

BTW - Does anybody know how to tell the difference between the "old-style" phaser and the "new-style" phaser?

rswright11

iTrader: (1)

Man that sucks. The phaser looks good to me but I'm not a mechanic. That is weird about how much darker the cover is where the phaser is located. Keep us posted!

80575

Sorry, not trying to hi jack but, how hard is it to change out the solenoids?

FordSilly

I'm sorry I can't tell you the diff between new and old phasers,

But on the bright side you can say that you have a damn clean engine!!

FordSilly

Easy as cake my fellow mner

I can help you If you would like,

I used a flat blade screwdriver and vise grips to remover the solenoid cover, didn't break either and it was an 04 with 127 k

80575

My tick isn't that bad as some of the others that I have heard, but it still bothers me. Feel like it might be the intake but I haven't gotten anything looked at. Its been noted on my oasis report that the truck ticks at a warm idle. Its just narrowing down what ia ticking.

GrimaceTimus

Slow goin...I have had to take a ton of breaks today due to the extreme heat. I started around 10 AM this morning and finally said fugit about 9PM ... I need a 10mm thin-wall, deep-well to get that 3rd PS pump bolt out and I don't have one. Gotta nice 1/2-drive impact 10mm socket ... not enough clearance for it. But as you can see, that is the only thing stopping me from pulling the cover...(yes, the PS pulley has been removed too)



Here is what the driver-side phaser looks like...it's definitely not as new as the passenger-side.





I would say that the guy I bought this from definitely has the passenger-side phaser replaced back in May...the CarFax showed a dealer service ... hopefully I can call them and get the details of what was done ... I'd say maybe they did exhaust gaskets too...



Well...there is no way I am getting this all done this weekend. I need a VCT solenoid, some solenoid seals and I am still thinking about an oil pump...but I won't make that decision until I am into the timing cover. From the top, looking into each side, the guides seem to be intact.

And I .......Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz.