2007 F-150 5.4L 147,000 mi
Truck just recently started acting up. Would run fine, nice and quiet but as soon as it came up to temp it would idle really rough and stall. Researched everything and now know of the cam phaser problem. I hear chairn slap during the rough idle but not during when it is running fine.
I am not the person to get into a project like this and had to rely on people who I feel are trust worthy for referrals.

Both shops wanted nothing to do with this engine. Basically said in the long run it would be better to get another engine. Looked on line for remans and was shocked at the terrible reviews these companies get. Only thing I saw that felt remotely safe was buying direct from Ford parts.

Any suggestions?

 

Did you go take a look at Jasper engines? Either way, you don't need a new engine for just a timing job.

 

Everything I read when phaser fail, along with low oil pressure.....the internal damage can add up. Don't really want to have the timing job start only to find other areas are damaged because of lack of oil. Again I am not a gear head.

 

Is it throwing any codes? With only chain slap at start up as a symptom I wouldn't be scared to get the timing done.

But... Check out what you would pay both ways. If you are having someone do it, you may be close to the same price either way. If I had to pay $2,000 in labor to have the timing done, I may have just gone with a Reman with a warranty as well.

If you do end up doing the timing only, don't skimp on parts, buy all Ford timing components, and a Melling Oil pump. Either the M360HV or the M340HV.

The shops that don't want to work on it know that it is a pain in the butt to do it. It isn't that they can't, it is that if they're getting paid flat rate they know that it will probably take them the full amount of time that it says it takes. I tend to stay away from shops that "Refuse" to work on my vehicles. Sure, some things are best left to specialists, but this repair has been performed by many guys in their garage.

 

From what I've read and seen, the job isn't that bad at all, just a lot of things that need to come off to get to the front cover. If you do decide to get the timing job, get Ford parts and thank us later.

 

I've done the job before, it's a lot of disassembly to get to the stuff, but it's not really hard. I did it in a week in my parents driveway when I had my '07. The worst part of it is access. You'll spend the majority of the time bent over the radiator support or trying to wedge yourself in from underneath. I agree with the others, it doesn't sound like you need a new engine, just new timing components. Doesn't sound like a phaser completely died. You'd hear a lot more noise, and it wouldn't run since the camshaft wouldn't turn on that side. You should be alright with a timing job, but without knowing if it's throwing codes I can't give a ton of certainty about it.

 

Actually from his post, it honestly sounds more like a failed tensioner than phaser at this point.

 

Agreed

 

If you live anywhere near Chicago take it to Makuloco

 

where are you located?

if you rebuild you can get a crate Jasper motor for about 5k i think then you have labor left
a rebuild from your local guy should be around 2.5k plus the labor...

really depends where you live and availability of mechanics around you