Hi!

I'm having trouble timing my Ranger after a timing chain and cassette job
Engine ran perfectly before (only changed them because I had the engine out for clutch work and figured I'd change the chains while I'm at it)

I'm able to lock the crank at top dead center and time the cams perfectly (with hydraulic tensioner tool installed). I turned the engine by hand to make sure everything lines up and the the cams do not line up parallel to the head. They're both a few degrees off.
I figured this might be due to the hydraulic tensioners not fully tensioned given there's less/no oil pressure.
So I put everything back together and the engine ran like crap. I'm getting P0320 (crank and cam out of time)

Any of you had this issue before? What could I possible be doing wrong? I meticulously followed the steps, with the tools installed the cams are perfect yet when I spin the engine they do not return to parallel with the heads.


I followed FordTechMakuloco's youtube series ( ).
One thing he does is remove everything (including cams) and starts from scratch. With the knowledge I have now, I should of locked the cams before removing everything instead of starting from scratch.


Anyways if any of you have seen this issue before and have an idea of what I'm doing wrong I'll take any advice at this point!

Thanks!

 

I am not sure how you are timing the cams but if you don't have the proper tool for timing them, you will not be able to get them timed properly. When I did mine, my brother had the proper tools, and we had no problem getting the cams timed. I used Makuloco's procedure but did not remove the cams. The tool locates the cam and the crank and uses a substitute tensioner. The cam sprocket is locked to the cam by torquing the sprocket bolt and then then the cam is locked to the crank by torquing the jackshaft bolt. Then the other cam is done with the same tools and process. If you follow the instructions exactly with the tool, I don't see how the timing could be off.

I am not sure your method of checking the cam timing is a valid way of doing it. I have never heard of doing it that way. What surface are you using to determine if it is parallel to the head? My race car cam timing is checked by a specific amount of lift on the #1 intake valve at a specific degree on the crank, but it is a push rod engine

 

Have you learned anything new?? I have the same exact problem. Truck ran amazing and never once had a check engine light. I pulled the motor, did the timing chain job and when I put it all back together and drove it, it seemingly ran perfect. I then noticed it had a bit of hesitation around 3k rpm’s. It eventually threw a P0320 code and the hesitation/missfire gradually got worse until it wouldn’t even move under its own power. When it would run, it smelled like gas. I ended up pulling it all back apart and checked the timing again and everything seemed good. The spark plugs were black but the valves/timing were good and nothing seemed to help. I changed the Crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft position sensor and nothing… idk what else to do. You literally described the same exact problem I have. I’m so lost. (I also followed the same YouTube video but I bought a cheaper timing chain tool on Amazon, wondering if that thing isn’t timing it properly although it has all good reviews)