Roadblock007

I just bought the truck a couple of weeks ago. When I bought it the tick was there and so was a cracked passenger side exhaust manifold. I talked to the previous owner and said that his cam phasers may be making the ticking. He said he just had them done because that's what he thought too, so it was likely the cracked manifold. I had the manifold fixed and the ticking is still there. I'm not sure if any other components were done along with the phasers.

SCORGE

Get a cheap auto stethoscope and start sleuthing around

dukedkt442

Or a long screwdriver.

Definitely don't want it to be a frozen follower, if the PO put in new phasers but didn't address the root cause (tensioners).

SCORGE

Those work too.
I keep half of an old broom handle in the toolbox lol

Roadblock007

Any tips on a procedure or places to be focusing on while poking around?

dukedkt442

Yeah... all over lol. Exhaust manifolds, all over the VCs, timing cover (watch out for spinny spinny things! Fan, belt, idlers!!) Check both sides. Touch the long rod to the spots, the other end to your ear. You'll hear things.

redfishtd

If you suspect a exhaust leak still . You can put a smoke tester on tail pipe and see if it leaks .That way you can look at a cool exhaust system . There are several homemade hookups on you tube . Or you can put a tank type vacuum on blow and spray with a soap solution .
If you suspect timing problem /oil flow problem the first thing to do is drop oil pan and see if plastic from tensioners in there .Quite frequently some do not clean up oil pan and oil pu which is a big mistake The oil pu will be full of ground up plastic fibers you must get them out . Find out just what was done during timing job ,was it oem parts , did he put a new oil pump in it ? The new melling HV oil pump is the way to go if you have to go into timing cover . If its a 4x4 there are tricks to get into oil pan .There is more to upgrade if you do timing job --stay tuned .
Aftermarket phasers are junk see ford tech malukoco you tube .

650NutKase

The most typical phaser to go out is the passenger side. Stick the probe near the front of the valve cover on that passenger side and see if you can hear a distinct 'knock', especially at hot idle

redfishtd

By the way exhaust studs should be replaced with stainless ones and using high temp nickel anti seize. Just because its new doesn't mean its not leaking .

Roadblock007

Talked to original owner today and he had the cam phasers and timing chains done at Ford in July 2017 and the drivers side rocker arms replaced at Ford last year. I would assume that if it was done at Ford they did the whole timing set with guides and all. The truck is already sold so I can't imagine he would make up anything. No point now.