TWO DIFFERENT FORD MECHANICS TWO DIFFERENT ASSUMPTIONS. THE FIRST FORD MECK STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE KNOCKING IN MY 1998 F150 4X4 5.4 LITRE WAS A BAD TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND IT WAS NOT ALLOWING OIL TO GET TO MY VALVE LASH ADJUSTERS. DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TENSIONERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING OIL TO THE LASH ADJUSTERS ON EACH SIDE OF THE ENGINE. SECOND MECHANIC STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE CHAIN ITSELF IS BAD AND MAKING THE NOISE. EATHER WAY BOTH STATE THE PROBLEM IS UNDER THE TIMING COVER. TRUCK STILL RUNS LIKE RAPED APE EVERYTHING GREAT. WHEN I CHANGED ALL THE VALVE LASH ADJUSTERS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR ALITTLE WHILE I DONT THINK THE CHAINS ARE BAD I STILL DONT THINK THE OIL GALLY IS GETTING ANY OIL. ANY SUGGETIONS NEEDED CANT AFFORD 1800.00 WOULD RATHER DO IT MYSELF JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACT PROBLEM BEFORE I START THAT IS WHY I TOOK IT TO FORD AND GOT IT CHECKED OUT HOPING THEY WOULD TELL ME WHATS WRONG. THANKS MISSERABLE IN FAIRFIELD OH CHECKED

 

You might try taking both valve covers off and spinning one cam while watching the other rotate. Also, you can disconect the coils and bump the motor over for a few seconds and see if the chain gets oily.

If it is an oiling problem, adding lucas oil stabilizer may help quite it down.