It's not an F150, but a Flex Ecoboost. Uses only the intake cam for the phasers, but otherwise same setup. I thought it was timing chain rattle, only heard on cold start, but now that I have the covers off, the chain has no slack, just a bit of deflection which is normal, so thinking its the Phasers that I hear. I am just looking for confirmation that phasers can sound like a timing chain on cols start.

 

The phasers will sound almost like a fast ratcheting sound for a few seconds.

 

Hmm. I have the cover off and I am not seeing the slack I thought I would. Going to replace everything to be on the safe side. I listened to some videos of phaser rattle and it did sound a bit like what I heard. Discovered the bolts that should have been the ones for the cams are way too long, not a clue what they are used on, but definitely not the single phaser EB. They are supposedly one and done bolts so bought replacements, not. The left phaser arrived today, have to wait til I get home to find out if I got the correct one this time, the last one I got, the box was right but the part inside was in a ziplock bag and not at all what it should have been. Got a new Melling oil pump too, so along with the water pump this engine should be good for another 200K.