vintageman

I agree, you are so close. When I did mine, I was off 1 or 2 teeth as well. I put a pair of vice grips on the non-journaled part of the cam behind the phaser on bank 1 and had my son hold the vice grips. I took the phaser bolt back out, removed the phaser and re-aligned the phaser arrow up with the two colored links on the timing chain. Then when I went to install the phaser on the end of the cam, I had my son slightly turn the cam until the phaser slipped on into position. Then I installed the phaser bolt and tightened to specs. At that point, everything lined up correctly. Been running great for over 2 years now.
Good luck, let us know how it goes.
Tom

VTX1800N1

Just make sure the timing mark on the chain is aligned to the mark on the crank sprocket and then carefully turn the crank in whatever direction you need the chain to move to align the cam sprocket timing mark with the chain.

F150Torqued

@SchwartzWI
Thanks to @vintageman and @VTX1800N1, I think either method will work. Having only done one (mine) I do not have any experience with which to compare against. But you haven't done anything wrong - lots of guys report the same issue. I think most do not realize how much torque it requires to get the cam lobes to push two or three valve springs down at once. Guess this is the reason the manual (and @s_vares in this thread) recommends removing those followers. May also be a reason the Phaser's become unable to return cams to advanced mode if coil spring weakens with age and oil pressure sags too low at idle. (put that's for another post/day)

I am convinced nothing will get damaged if you "EITHER" rotate the crank "clockwise" (viewed from front), or the "Phaser" (counter clockwise from the front) to align the marks. ///Just make sure it ends up like the front engine picture from the manual - without moving anything farther than you must. ///


REASONING: If the valves are NOT in contact with pistons now (and one would have to assume they are not) either above action is moving the Crankshaft/Camshaft more toward a retard relationship. The phaser's operational design allows a maximum VVT retard of over 60 crankshaft degrees (30º camshaft). You do not need nearly that much.
PS. Looking at your picture - it seems we BOTH were referring to clockwise / counter clockwise incorrectly. Hummm that's scary trying to assist without being there.

Glenn Costa

05, f150 w/5.4. Have the tapping sound but not at idle. Nor does it do it while in park or neutral. It makes tap tap tap noise when I remove foot from gas pedal or if I'm slightly pressing the peddle. Also at start up it will tap. I was told like 5 years ago it was the timing chain. After further research I see this info about cam phasers. What do you think? Thanks

F150Torqued

I think most would describe timing chain noise more like marbles in a coffee can than a tap-tap-tap noise.


My take on your overall description (at start up - not in park or neutral - on light acceleration - and on light deceleration) might be an exhaust manifold crack or gasket leak. Not an extremely rare occurrence on these models.

Martian

If it's a slight "tickatickaticka", especially when you let off the gas after a light acceleration, that's your VCT system doing its job. Doesn't sound detrimental at all.

SchwartzWI

I Finally got Her all aligned up, and covers installed thanks to you guys.
One final question I hope, I still have plugs out and was looking at previous posts on how to prime the Oil pump before firing it up.
I installed a new Melling, I have cranked the motor over for almost a couple of minutes and can't seem to get the Oil Pressure gage(Dummy gage to move) Oil filter still empty also.
I only put in 5 Quarts to start but I assume that should be enough to prime it.
should I just put plugs-coils back in and let er rip??
worried about seizing her up
Mike

Martian

Put in seven, like the manual states. Then prime. It should not take a couple of minutes. It should only take a few seconds.

SchwartzWI

I added a Total of 7 quarts, I cranked it 3 times about 10 seconds long
nothing, Oil filter still Empty
any advise??
Mike

Martian

Seven includes an empty filter, so it's not that. Might want to drop your fuel pump and have a look at the pickup tube