Yes, when I originally put it together they were both centered between the two colored links.

The fact that they're both in identical positions, at TDC, and the engine feels fine when I rotate it, tells me I'm probably fine. But I really don't want to pull that front engine cover off, so I might just be working hard to convince myself

 

When you put it together, was the single colored link lined up with the dot on the crank gear? If it was off 1 link, that would explain the link location now I think. If you rotate the engine by hand 1 full turn, you can see how many links off from the phaser timing marks it is. When I started to put mine back together, my driver side was off 1 link on the phaser but lined up at the crank so I had to slightly turn the cam and hold it in place so that when the phaser was put back on, the mark was in the center of the 2 links.

 

When I put it together originally (250+ miles ago) everything was lined up correctly. I think I checked it 6 times.

With as many revolutions as the engine's been through since I put it back together (before this little detour with my rollers and VCT solenoid), the fact that both phaser timing marks are showing up at TDC at the same position relative to the colored links on the chains tells me that chances are good I haven't skipped any teeth in the interim.

I guess it's possible that both chains skipped a tooth on the crank gear (that's the only way I can think they'd hit TDC and still be on the same link in the chain), but if they did that I'd expect the right-hand cam to hit TDC out of sync with the timing mark on the crank pulley.

I'm not a mechanic, but I'm pretty good with mechanical things and my reasoning seems sound to me. Does it sound right to you?

 

It does sound right, I just remember reading something about every turn moved the links off by 2. You are probably right though because they are both identically off by 1 link. I think that you are on the right track to a good running engine. Let us know how she is doing when you get her back together.

 

The links do not stay lined up as it rotates. If it has been rotated there is no way to visually check if timing is aligned. Only way to be sure would be to take it off and manually reset it.

 

The dealership by my house quoted me around $1200 for the passenger side manifold leak fix.

$400ish for the parts and 6 hours labour. *gulp*

 

Did you check at a local exhaust shop. We have 1 here that will do manifold replacements (not genuine Ford parts) for less than the dealers want. They did my brothers 04 f250 for $300 including the manifold and bolts.

 

Hey guys I just replaced my phasers,chains, guides, tensioners. I rotated the engine to ensure no contact and everything is good but I get slack in the chain at certain rotation spots. The slack will also jump from passenger side to driver side and then they will both be tight. Is this normal? Will the chains stay tight after the engine is running?

 

I had a little slack at certain points as well. Make sure that all timing marks line up with the colored chain links, and the marks on the crank gear line up with the colored link on the chain, make sure cam lobes are in the right position when the Harmonic Balancer timing notch is at the 1:00 position with the pulley pointing at the 12:00 position. Double and triple check all of these things before you put her back together. Spray your VCT solenoids down good with throttle body cleaner and dip them in clean oil before reinstalling them.
If you have already rotated the engine with the new chains installed, the links will not line up again with each rotation, it takes a lot of full rotations to get them lined up again, hopefully you verified all before rotating.
Before you start her, put the gas pedal to the floor and crank the engine over for about 10-15 seconds, do this 3 or 4 times to help build up oil pressure in the new tensioners. Then start her up. Good luck.

 

I have already rotated the engine but before I did make sure that all the colored links lined up. The only thing thing I didn't check was the cam lobes. But I used vice grips on the camshaft so I know they didn't move . Both of my phasers have an R on them but I thought they were the same for both sides.