5.4 timing

jimmy^green^gt · Feb 8, 2025

Hey all, trying to put this 5.4 back together and when going to set the timing I realized there's a point where it feels like the crank is hitting something. Took the heads out and still, it will spin about 355° either direction but hits the same spot so it can't go all the way around. Any help or input welcome while I try to solve the puzzle

lwarrior1016 · Feb 8, 2025

Can you post some pictures of the engine? Did you rebuild it yourself?

Have you made sure the crankshaft wasn’t hitting anything?

If you rotate it until it hits, can you rotate it the opposite direction and it hits in the same spot?

jimmy^green^gt · Feb 8, 2025

lwarrior1016 said:
Can you post some pictures of the engine? Did you rebuild it yourself?

Have you made sure the crankshaft wasn’t hitting anything?

If you rotate it until it hits, can you rotate it the opposite direction and it hits in the same spot?

I cannot as I'm not there now and didn't take any, no I did not. Left the block in the truck and never even pulled the oil pan

As far as I know it is not but I haven't cracked into the block at all

Yes, that's what's so strange to me is that it freely moves everywhere but that one spot and it's consistently that spot even with the heads off

lwarrior1016 · Feb 8, 2025

Could you give us a little more background on this thing?

What year is it? Why were you taking it apart? Was there any other work done to it? Did you own the vehicle while it was running or did you just buy it?

Just trying to gather some more info so we can give the best guess.

jimmy^green^gt · Feb 8, 2025

lwarrior1016 said:
Could you give us a little more background on this thing?

What year is it? Why were you taking it apart? Was there any other work done to it? Did you own the vehicle while it was running or did you just buy it?

Just trying to gather some more info so we can give the best guess.

I believe it's an 03. I know it's a PI top end 5.4 with bolt on cam gears instead of press on and my NPI 4.6 valve covers fit on them. Bone stock truck. It's not mine it's a buddies that I was fixing but I know that it's been running and driving fine for a while cuz his dad daily drove for a couple years no issues, gave it to him and it popped a head gasket and overheated pretty good, melted material on the bottom side of the head and a pretty wicked warp. He said that he kept driving it as it heated up but killed it as soon as it pegged. This is a puzzle to me and I really don't want to pull the block out cuz I really don't wanna deal with a torque converter

RAU03MACH · Feb 9, 2025

Only way to find out
Take it apart
To many moving parts you could guess all day

Ronnied · Feb 10, 2025

Sounds crazy but I have seen when water gets in a cylinder and the engines sits it can leave a rust ring, almost like a ridge that will stop the piston dead in its tracks. Check each cylinder for that. If so a ball hone will easily clean it up but check for pitting.

RAU03MACH · Feb 10, 2025

fuel will hydro lock an engine , one transmission bolt longer than the other
starter locking up
could go on

Ronnied · Feb 10, 2025

If the heads are off, hydro lock would not be an issue. Also if turning by hand the starter shouldn't be the issue either.

RAU03MACH · Feb 10, 2025

i know
i just saying many things can lock an engine up you need to tare it down

Ronnied · Feb 10, 2025

I do agree RAU03MACH, not trying to be a bhole, just those 2 things should not be an issue here. I own a small auto recycling business and run into the rust ring issue alot, and thats with engines pulled and on the shelf,lol..