I'm on page 8 of 145 pages. Rather than waste the next 2 days reading each and every post, I have a question that hopefully someone can answer.

Aside from throwing $600 worth of parts at the valvetrain - what is the "fix" that is occurring here? The OP did a bang up job of describing how to replace this stuff and how much it cost and where to get the parts. I'm not intimidated at all at replacing parts - but I'm not seeing a fix in this process.

I was hoping to read that a part is the weak link and there is a simple mod you can do to not lose oil pressure. I would think that Just replacing crappy parts with the same crappy parts is going to net the same results. Basically you overhaul your valvetrain for $500 once in a while. Not exactly the fix I was hoping for so if there is some pointed problem that people have discovered, could you point me to the specific page number between 8 and 145? Thanks.

 

In essence you are correct, however, some of us didn't have to do this "fix" for many miles. I had close to 160,000 on mine before this needed to be done. I am of the opinion that because of the poor design of the phaser/vct/tensioner system and how it can effect the oiling of the top of the valve train, it is vital to keep your oil fresh and use a good anti drainback filter on it.
The only option that bypasses this is installing the livernois lockouts as someone else mentioned a few posts ago.

 

so, truck put back together and she turns over fine but will not fire. tried starting fluid and she fired then died. assuming this is a gas issue? would incorrect timing create this problem?

any help appreciated

 

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. I had never heard of the lockout kit before. So basically it looks like there is no more variable valve timing with the lockouts. I wonder how the engine performs (or lack of performing) with the full advance locked cams. There would have to be a noticable loss of bottom end grunt, but engine durability trumps 20ft-lbs any day.

Has anyone discovered what causes the loss of oil pressure though? It can't be old oil or sludge. I thought i read about a seal that commonly fails - maybe on the timing chain tensioner? I wonder if that is still a problem that needs addressed even with the lockout kit.

 

Well maybe we don't hear much about them because they don't fail lol, that's all I can guess. But from what I have read you only lose .5 miles per gallon and only lose power from the start off, so it's only really a small amount of power loss and noticeable when towing. I would rather live with that than have to do the cam phasers every few years!

I am on the 3rd time of opening up my engine and would like it to be the last

 

Actually, your torque loss would be in the upper end of the RPM range.

 

First post here, have read this entire thread and researched this project quite a bit in the last month or so. Looking to get started on my '05 Lariat the beginning of next month. My question is, does anyone have a comprehensive list of tools that will be needed, such as wrench sizes and stuff like that. I just don't want to be ***** deep in this thing and have to run out to grab a wrench that I don't have or something stupid like that.

 

Got a tip for you first timer. When you do the work....don't leave a part out like my dumb *****. That is all....

 

Oh this could be good. What did you leave out?

(hope you didn't say that already)

 

The crank sensor sprocket. .....facepalm. .. ya...that thing that does about the least of all the crap under the timing cover... I mean I love working on my truck instead of driving it so I figured I would pretty much do the job 2 times >.>