When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have an 04 F150 with 130k and I'm starting to order the parts to do this job and have a couple of questions.
1. Do I need the Ford crankshaft positioning tool or can I just rotate the crankshaft so that the keyway is in the 11 to 12 o'clock position and that is close enough? Does it need to be exact? Also how do I rotate the crank once the crank pulley and bolt are removed? Do I reinsert the bolt and use that to turn the motor?
2. I'm debating on ordering a set of lash adjusters and followers and replace them all while I'm in there or is this a waste of time/money. I don't want to start the job and find some that need replacing and not have the parts on hand. I found this set on e-bay for $265.
But the lash adjusters listed are part # 5L1Z 6500-A and the kit shows that its compatible with the 2005 through 2010 F150. I looked around and the lash adjusters for the 2004 are part # 3L3Z-6500-BA. Was there a change made from 04 to 05? Are these parts interchangeable?
Yes the lash adjusters on an 04 are different then an 05 and up. If you use the 05 up, you will destroy your motor. Sadly because those lash adjusters were used only 1 year, you pay a premium.
I found the best price for mine from Freedom Racing in Lamoni Iowa. You will not find a cheaper price anywhere, they even beat out the dealerships.
Make sure that you stress the year when ordering as they did send me out the door with the 05 up, and I had to return to store to get the correct ones. In fact, if you mention that, I bet they remember me :P
Both sets of lash adjusters use the same cam followers.
Yes the lash adjusters on an 04 are different then an 05 and up. If you use the 05 up, you will destroy your motor. Sadly because those lash adjusters were used only 1 year, you pay a premium.
I found the best price for mine from Freedom Racing in Lamoni Iowa. You will not find a cheaper price anywhere, they even beat out the dealerships.
Make sure that you stress the year when ordering as they did send me out the door with the 05 up, and I had to return to store to get the correct ones. In fact, if you mention that, I bet they remember me :P
Both sets of lash adjusters use the same cam followers.
Thanks, I did notice they are quite a bit more expensive, so now I'm not sure how many I should order. Did you replace them all, and if you did how many actually needed replacing?
Thanks, I did notice they are quite a bit more expensive, so now I'm not sure how many I should order. Did you replace them all, and if you did how many actually needed replacing?
When I changed mine, i think i found 13 bad out of 24 bad lash adjusters. I bought oem off of ebay, all 24 lash adjusters and followers for about $280. Worth every penny so I don't have to go back in.
Good luck
Tom
When I changed mine, i think i found 13 bad out of 24 bad lash adjusters. I bought oem off of ebay, all 24 lash adjusters and followers for about $280. Worth every penny so I don't have to go back in.
Good luck
Tom
By the price, yours is without a doubt an 05 or newer.
To answer the question, yes, replace all 24. I was around $450 or so and that was OEM at Freedom racing.
Mike
I also don't seem to remember the 04 lash adjusters and followers being specific to that year. Pretty sure when I got them they fit several years up to 09?
Yea, I do kinda remember having to state that I have an 04 and verifying that the ones listed would work for me. It may just have been me asking the seller a question just for peace of mind though.
Do you have the part number for the lash adjusters you ended up using. I just ordered the ones listed for the 04 (3L3Z-6500-BA). For 24 each of those and the followers I paid $450 plus shipping. The 05 and up use the same followers and its the top of the lash adjuster that was redesigned where it meets the follower so I'm not sure why they still specify the old part for the 04 only.
Michael you had said we can not use the new lash adjusters in the 04. Do you know why? I ordered the ones listed for the 04 as I don't want to take any chances if I'm going to do all this work, but I do wonder if I could have saved some money and used the cheaper ones.
