How do I ensure I'm not looking at a 4.6l engine that is timed correctly when cam locks weren't used???? I'm 100 percent sure I'm at tdc on cylinder one piston, and the cam lobes are off the rockers and, 11 o'clock keyway, 6 o'clock timing marks... I have read so many bad stories of these being off and wanted to ensure I didn't button up a mistake... with 1cyl at TDC what should I be seeing on 5 6 7 & 8 to ensure I'm still timed accordingly... all timing marks are aligned as per specs... just don't want to finish this without a warm and fuzzy.. rolled over by hand until the marks realigned again, no pvc but still not convinced I'm golden.... any help, loosing sleep at this point...

 

I don't know the 4.6 very well . As far as I know only some mustangs had phasors with a 4.6 . Are you sure you have a 4.6 . Are there vct solenoids sticking out of the valve covers. Do you have 2valves per cly or 3v . Pictures would help to determine some of this . We don't like lockouts for the 5.4l . The timing on a 5.4 is not exactly at no 1 TDC. but with all the marks lined up and cam lobes on no 1 and 5 at the correct orientation per ford diagram its at the timing point chains and links as shown on ford diagram . If you have a 4.6 someone on here may give you better advice that has worked on them I only worked on some with mustangs .
Taking pictures is a good idea anyway ,you may question something later . When I first did my timing I fixated on tdc no.1 , it is not necessary nor does ford lead you there , Crank dot at six o'clock has the pistons where they want it near tdc no 1, cams on no 1 and no 5 put both banks at the right valve point if set per ford diagram . If you look at the gears on the crank and cams they are two times the size on cams ,crank has to turn twice for one revolution of cam gear that's how you get 4 stroke . The cam decides if its on a compression stroke or exhaust stroke.
If you have a 5.4l I can post diagrams etc . On both engines make sure the reluctor wheel has fingers pointing towards radiator. It is stamped front . Most of us connect crank pos cable while putting timing cover on ,its just easier.

 

 

It's definitely a 4.6l 2 valve. So what I intended to do today was simply roll the engine over and watch the firing order to ensure the cam lobes are actually on the compression stroke not overlap on the driver side head. I know I'm good on the passenger side (which was the only replaced component due to blowing the plug threads on cyl 3) just not so sure the engine made it to proper timing marks and stroke before taken apart and worried I'm 180 off from left to right side banks... making sure I didn't install the passenger side cylinder on what would be the exhaust stroke should the right side bank have been off... however as I stated before, keyway is at 11 o'clock, timing mark at 6 on crank, Bank 1 cam mark is at 11 and bank 2 is almost at 12, black links on chains are lined up with those marks and I rolled the engine through by hand without any issues.. just double and triple checking my work since it wasn't disassembled per factory recommendations.