I just picked up a 93 F150 XLT this weekend with a 302 and AOD trans. When I checked it out, it had what I thought to be lifter chatter going on, but the owner wouldn't have known a lifter from a ball joint. I brought it home anyway and have been trying to work through this, but it's not giving up easily. I've checked timing and fluids which seem fine but it's getting me. Here's a short video that I tried to take that seems to show what I'm hearing pretty well. 93 F150 noise 5.0L - YouTube

Maybe just a seafoam and go, or have to overhaul, dunno.

Thanks,

 

Okay, I know no responses yet, but I have still been working on this trying to figure it out. Firing order is correct, and cap and rotor look good, plugs were said to be new, but too hot to pull this evening. The history on this truck is basically not available. I know that the previous owner claimed that he had issues, but he's not mechanical at all, and just started throwing parts at it, or was going to, so I'm basically starting from scratch.

The sound in the video seems to be concentrated mostly in the center of the engine, when facing the front of the truck. It is severely lacking in power, and is getting worse, which is feeding my suspicion of the lifters either sticking or damaged.

With 165,000 miles, is it even worth trying to fix this one, or better off just yanking it out and getting a different motor?

 

I had hoped that with so many views I might have some responses by now, but I'll keep updating in hopes that someone else finds this helpful.

I tried doing the transmission fluid flush this evening by adding 1 quart to the oil, running for exactly 10 minutes, drained while it was hot, and then changed the filter and refilled with new Valvoline Max 5W30. It did turn my previously fresh oil black, so I trust it flushed some junk out, but my noise is still there.

The power issue was timing related for the most part. I have throttle response back tonight after advancing it a bit. I'll get a light on it this weekend and see where it really sits. I bought new valve cover gaskets and intake gaskets with the intent of pulling the upper end of this apart to examine all the moving parts topside and see what's going on.

I'm very much open to suggestions on other things to look for, or ways to narrow this down, because right now I think I'm chasing a stuck lifter, but who knows...

 

It sounds like a mechanical noise but that could also be a bad exhaust leak, is the air tube at the back of the motor intact? Also have you checked oil pressure?

 

I'm about to seafoam it through the vaccum line since I've already done a oil flush, and I'm hoping that will reveal an exhaust leak if there is one. It sure looked like the air tube was in good shape, but I don't have a accurate way to check the oil pressure at the moment. I know cell videos aren't the best at trying to catch a sound like this, but I too think it's mechanical. I may just have to wait and see what shows up in the tear down. A lot of work if it's just something simple, but I don't know what the last guy did to this thing. I mean, the pile of parts that he gave me with it tells me that he had no clue. Extra distributor, MAP sensor, about 6 unmarked vacuum sensors and other stuff. It's a grab bag.