Cam Timing?
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From: San Diego, CA
Cam Timing?
Serious problem yesterday. Truck suddenly started sounding like every lifter was clattering. Scope showed timing was off. Mechanic pulled a valve cover and found the cam gear had turned on the cam shaft. He does not have the Ford cam timing tool set and says he can get the timing right by counting timing chain plaited links. Is that possible? He says both cams have to come out but only the drivers side is bad. Is he right? This is beyond my "shade tree" experience so any insight would be appreciated.
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From: Louisville,Ky.
I don't know why the other cam would have to come out unless he is replacing both of them to keep the other one from doing the same thing shortly after replacing the bad one. It uses a key way to keep the gear from spinning on the cam. But you don't need to pull the cam to change that. Both timing chains will need to be removed.
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From: San Diego, CA
Thanks LxMan1,
So the timing gears can be removed and the keyway replaced and the gears pressed back on without removing the cams? This is a 97 5.4L. Do I definitely need the cam positioning tool?
So the timing gears can be removed and the keyway replaced and the gears pressed back on without removing the cams? This is a 97 5.4L. Do I definitely need the cam positioning tool?
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From: SE Texas
Originally Posted by LxMan1
Not sure on the tool, but the gears will slide on and off of the cams without too much trouble.
JL
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From: San Diego, CA
Originally Posted by Johnny Langton
Not on a 5.4L.They're all Windsors and are pressed fit gears,not bolt-on.
JL
JL
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From: YYC
i would reccomend using the tool..my brother and dad were just inside his 4.2L V6...and they tried to do it without the tool and got it all backtogether and it wouldnt fire properley....they ended up buying the tool and using it then taking it back.
trucks runs great now!
THNX
Duggy
trucks runs great now!
THNX
Duggy
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: SE Texas
Originally Posted by duggyb
i would reccomend using the tool..my brother and dad were just inside his 4.2L V6...and they tried to do it without the tool and got it all backtogether and it wouldnt fire properley....they ended up buying the tool and using it then taking it back.
trucks runs great now!
THNX
Duggy
trucks runs great now!
THNX
Duggy
JL
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From: YYC
well my brother and dad used a cam timing tool(im pretty sure thats what it was for)...it was a little black circular thing...cost about $35....maybe i am mistaken...i never used it..just seen him taking it back to the store..
could this have been for something else?
THNX
Duggy
could this have been for something else?
THNX
Duggy
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From: SE Texas
Originally Posted by Fasterhorses
So...my question or problem is...how can I tell if the cam gear has turned on the camshaft? Can it be put back in the proper position and welded? Thanks for any input.
JL
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: SE Texas
Originally Posted by duggyb
well my brother and dad used a cam timing tool(im pretty sure thats what it was for)...it was a little black circular thing...cost about $35....maybe i am mistaken...i never used it..just seen him taking it back to the store..
could this have been for something else?
THNX
Duggy
could this have been for something else?
THNX
Duggy
JL
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From: YYC
hmm well we did not know this...but its ok becuase we took it back and got our money back anyways...so it didnt cost us nothing but the trip to the store.
thanks for the headsup on using a driver though...i will know for next time.
THNX
Duggy
thanks for the headsup on using a driver though...i will know for next time.
THNX
Duggy
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From: San Diego, CA
Originally Posted by Johnny Langton
There's no practical way to do it,short of having the engine out and degreeing the cams then welding the gears in place. Then you have to be concerned with welding the powdered metal cam gear-they're fracture prone due to their composition.My suggestion is to look for a set of cams from any PI 4.6L or 5.4L (Romeo or Windsor) and install them-they're all the identical same be it truck,car,etc.
JL
JL
I'm at 107,850.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: SE Texas
Originally Posted by Fasterhorses
Well the pressed on cam gear appears to be another money saving stupid idea by Ford. Spent hours at a wrecking yard looking at 5.4 heads and measuring cam lobes (97's are 2.04" & non-PI heads) and found several cams that had movement in the gears, the yard guy was amazed. Is that maybe why the engines were junked in the first place? Every cam lobe back to 98 (they had no 97's) was 2.18" so I am SOL so far on a junk yard cam. Another disturbing fact has come to light and that is the camshaft bearings are just aluminum and part of the head casting and not fixable. All of the bearings and shafts that I saw were quite scored and mine were the worst probably because mine was older. Spark plugs that blowout...cam gears that turn because of no key...cam bearings shot because of cheap metal...all within 10 years...looks like these are truly THROW AWAY motors designed for 100,000 miles I'm at 107,850.
I'm at 107,850.You can swap in a set of '99-up PI cams,they'll work great. I've got '01 Romeo cams in my truck right now. The journals are all the same diameter,and the only difference in the cams is the lift-stock NPI are .472" lift intake and exhaust,stock PI are .510" intake and .530" exhaust. That'll gain 15-20 ft-lbs and a few hp while you're at it.
JL