Everyone,
I'm going through a replacement of some timing components after having one of my timing chain tensioners go bad. It sounds like this is fairly common in the '05 5.4L V8 triton f150 engines so I'm looking for some guidance on a specific issue. I've gotten my timing cover off and have found that only one of my tensioner went bad. It tore up the chain guides on the one side. I also was experiencing the ticking noise everyone else gets and was pulling cam phaser codes on the same side that the tensioner went bad on. I only want to replace the chain guides, timing chain, and cam phaser on my left bank so my question is as follows: The manuals say that the procedure for replacing the timing elements on both sides requires you to remove certain rocker arms on cylinders 1, 4, 5 and 8 to take the pressure of the cam. But since I'm only replacing the timing elements on the left side I'm wondering if I can get away with only removing the specified rocker arms on the 5 and 8 cylinders.
The reason I'm wanting to do it this way is because I was hoping to avoid taking the valve cover off on the right bank. I realize that it would be smart just to do it all while I'm in there but I'm operating on minimal time and budget and anyone who has taken the valve cover off the right bank knows its a horrible time suck and pain in the butt.
Any help or guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

I'll asume when you say LEFT side, you mean DRIVER side correct? If so, you CAN time just that side IF you do not disturb anything on the right bank in any during the process. As far as removing rocker arms go, after having wrenched on Fords exclusively since 2000 I don't think I have ever removed any followers on any 4.6 or 5.4 engine I've ever been into. Nor do I use any of the timing tools or cam/crank holders. I just line up the marks by folding the chain in half and MAKE SURE they remain lined up as I secure it with the tensioner. By mindful that the driver side bank will be the inner of the two timing chains so look very carefully at the mark on the crank at the 6 o'clock position, and make sure the bottom mark remains in the intended position as you secure the tensioner. It will be difficult to see through the first chain as you time the engine, but it can be done.

 

By the way, how did you manage to remove the front cover without removing the passenger side valve cover (there are valve cover bolts that bolt into the cover)?

 

Thank you for the reply.
Yes, when I say "left" I'm referring to the drivers side.
I was able to remove the timing cover without removing the passengers side valve cover just by removing the 3 bolts that attach the valve cover to he timing cover. The rest was done exactly how the Haynes manual suggests.
Another question, if I did try to replace just the tensioner and lower guide on the right bank, is it possible to do without removing the chain if I keep the chain tensioned with some bungees or rope?
Thanks,

 

I wouldn't suggest it. The reason I say this is because the moment you remove the tensioner from the passenger bank timing drive, that camshaft is going to roll backwards about five teeth without fail. I understand not wanting to remove the passenger side valve cover, but timing that side is almost impossible without removing it.

I've had more of these apart than I care to admit. If you remove the battery, battery tray. PCM, PCM mounting bracket, as well as the A/C drier and mounting bracket, that will make passenger side valve cover removal about as painless as possible. Or, you can do what I do and lift the cab off the frame to access all the timing drive components. I've been doing the last few of them by using this method, since it doesn't involve any additional parts, and the time taken to do the job is about the same or better, not to mention my body is not bent over for hours at a time.