How Long?
05 5.4l 3v s.crew lariat
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,505
Likes: 672
From: fl
Well us old farts take like 2 weeks to cover everything . Just 4 or so hours a day . Some days not that . I have heard younger go gett'em guys doing it in 12 to 16 hours . A lot of guys one weekend especially if you get a good buddy to help . . Timing jobs are not all the same . Mine threw roller to side and lashs bad . Pulled cams etc . Most of us are learn / research and get parts as needed . Since we are retired we try to save labor money but not so much on parts . We don't want to tear it down again because we cheaped out .
I made myself understand exactly how the timing /cams /chains lobes worked . I could see each stroke set up where cams and valves were at . I could not see how hard those damn power steering mounts were . Or the front 4 oil pan bolts that go into the timing cover , had to get small ratcheting wrenches for that . Didn't know how hard it was to get crank pulley bolt out , did not have powerful small impact so I made my own pulley holding tool . Didn't want to buy expensive valve tool to use in tight spaces so I lifted cams --worked fantastic . I found the best tool the toothed cam phaser holding tool ,works great and comes in handy for two step torque . So did my crank holding tool for two step torque on crank bolt .
No way was I going to dump my ac system to get valve cover off so I found a way around that . My goal is another 200k out of this rebuild so we were careful . I still missed not using plastic tensioners but I have the steel ones here ready to go if I have to hit that timing cover again . Plus now I would use the new melling 340hv oil pump but my standard melling 360 is doing good . Luckily I was too dumb to check crank end play and it must be alright .since I'm 60k into it now . Thanks to that genius who taught me to make a cardboard timing cover drawing and stick the bolts right there as you go . Pictures are nice but this was better . Los of notes too .
Good luck on your research /timing job .
I made myself understand exactly how the timing /cams /chains lobes worked . I could see each stroke set up where cams and valves were at . I could not see how hard those damn power steering mounts were . Or the front 4 oil pan bolts that go into the timing cover , had to get small ratcheting wrenches for that . Didn't know how hard it was to get crank pulley bolt out , did not have powerful small impact so I made my own pulley holding tool . Didn't want to buy expensive valve tool to use in tight spaces so I lifted cams --worked fantastic . I found the best tool the toothed cam phaser holding tool ,works great and comes in handy for two step torque . So did my crank holding tool for two step torque on crank bolt .
No way was I going to dump my ac system to get valve cover off so I found a way around that . My goal is another 200k out of this rebuild so we were careful . I still missed not using plastic tensioners but I have the steel ones here ready to go if I have to hit that timing cover again . Plus now I would use the new melling 340hv oil pump but my standard melling 360 is doing good . Luckily I was too dumb to check crank end play and it must be alright .since I'm 60k into it now . Thanks to that genius who taught me to make a cardboard timing cover drawing and stick the bolts right there as you go . Pictures are nice but this was better . Los of notes too .
Good luck on your research /timing job .