2003 5.4 timing chains installation
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2003 5.4 timing chains installation
Hi all, I just signed up to this site. I have been trying to figure out how to install the timing chains on a 5.4 2V for almost 6 weeks now. I have read countless posts, watched endless u tubes and have read Chiltons and Haynes books. I have been turning wrenches for more than 40 years and have rebuilt several dozen engines. But, this 5.4, which I didn't disassemble, is an absolute mess and mystery for some reason. I am doubtful if I even have the rods in correctly. Nowhere is it written or pictured which way they go in. The pistons were off the rods already and nothing was marked. To me it is looking like this engine just needs to go to the dump and write off the money. I thought I would give this one try with these timing chains before I tear it apart so I can hand load the pieces into the truck and dump it. Thanks. Ken
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One of the best resources I have found for rebuild Is the book- How to rebuild 4.6/5.4-liter ford engines by George Reid.SA155 of the workbench How-To series. The book covers 2-3 and 4 valve engines with good writing and plenty of pictures of all components.including timing chain and gears install. I ordered mine through books-A-million.
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Thanks, it does help. One of the many problems I am having is I have no Cam gear locking tool I keep seeing reference to. This was just ripped down and tossed in boxes and I got stuck with it. The pdf pic did answer the mystery of dividing the links in half. Hard to do with 61 links.
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One of the best resources I have found for rebuild Is the book- How to rebuild 4.6/5.4-liter ford engines by George Reid.SA155 of the workbench How-To series. The book covers 2-3 and 4 valve engines with good writing and plenty of pictures of all components.including timing chain and gears install. I ordered mine through books-A-million.
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Timing chains install......still
I have the chains on however the drivers side is so tight on the tensioner side I can't get the guide on let alone the tensioner. The pass side is so loose on the tensioner side I can almost squeeze the chain together in the middle. I have the chains marked just as the pdf pic shows and the gear teeth into the links just as shown. Any clues? Thanks. Ken 9073510408
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Without being there and seeing it with my own eyes, all I can say is that it sounds like something is not put together correctly.
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Thanks Alloro, I managed to get the guides and tensioners forced on. The drivers side is very sloppy on the stationary guide and the tensioner side is so tight when I pulled the paper clip from the tensioner it didn't move at all. The passenger side feels ok but the mark on the cam gear is no longer at 12:00. More like 12:30. I am thinking I have wasted enough time and money on this engine and the time has come to pull the heads and crank from it to lighten it up and toss the parts into the dumpster and list the Expedition on CL as scrap. A month and a half and more than 3K just trying to put this engine back together is insane. Thanks all for your time and effort. Ken
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5.4 engine
Thanks. It is now in the neighbors dumpster. I tore it back down to make it lighter. New crank, rods, pistons, t chains, cams, rebuilt heads, fresh honed standard block etc etc right into the trash. I have just come to the end with this endless rebuild. Six weeks with new multiple problems everyday. The 03 Expedition will be heading to the recyclers tomorrow. I am done done done with this project. With just 117K miles on it. You folks were very helpful. It was just too complicated for me. Now comes in my 07 Expedition EL. Computer and airbag module were stolen. Hopefully with 9270 miles on this 5.4 it won't need to be rebuilt, at least yet. Ken
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That's what I figured so I spun it around 20 or so times and both Cam timing marks were off what looked to be a toorh. The pass side Cam needed to go counter clock a tooth and the left side needed to go clockwise a tooth, at least so it appeared. I was just at the end with this. I still don't think the rods were in right either. I never found anything on which direction the bearing tabs were to be. The guy who took it apart didn't mark anything. Also, 2 rebuilds in 117k miles on a vehicle that was never abused and had oil changed 3000 to 4000 always with synthetic and always Motorcraft oil filters.
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The engine has to be turned over 70 times before the marked timing links will line up again due to the length of the chains. Also, it doesn't matter which cylinder the rods came from. If you look at the big end of the rod one side is beveled and the other side is straight. The bevel goes against the crank and the straight side rides against the other rod. This is true for all V- type engines that have 2 rods on each crank throw. The bevel is called a fillet. Just some info to store away in the file cabinet for future reference.
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You mean more like 7 not 70, correct?
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The engine has to be turned over 70 times before the marked timing links will line up again due to the length of the chains. Also, it doesn't matter which cylinder the rods came from. If you look at the big end of the rod one side is beveled and the other side is straight. The bevel goes against the crank and the straight side rides against the other rod. This is true for all V- type engines that have 2 rods on each crank throw. The bevel is called a fillet. Just some info to store away in the file cabinet for future reference.