My truck's in ICU
Hopefully you didn't take my comment the wrong way. It was tongue-in-cheek because of the fact that you have to replace the entire engine instead of just a few inexpensive parts.
In any case, here's a broad primer:
VCT Solenoid receives command from the ECU and controls the flow of oil to the cam phasers. The VCT's actually limit the flow of oil to certain passage ways to the cam phasers in order to advance/retard the cam timing on each side of the engine. The cam phasers are linked to the engine mechanicals via the timing chain and do the physical work of changing the cam timing. VCT solenoids can be changed out without too much fuss, Cam phasers are a much more invasive item to replace. If the VCT solenoids go bad, you throw trouble codes and the engine runs poorly, but will still function albeit at reduced performance. If the cam phaser has a failure/blockage, it could cause much worse symptoms in extreme cases, but usually just causes the infamous cam phaser diesel-clattering. In your case, the failed lifter was much more damaging to engine internals, including the camshaft.
In any case, here's a broad primer:
VCT Solenoid receives command from the ECU and controls the flow of oil to the cam phasers. The VCT's actually limit the flow of oil to certain passage ways to the cam phasers in order to advance/retard the cam timing on each side of the engine. The cam phasers are linked to the engine mechanicals via the timing chain and do the physical work of changing the cam timing. VCT solenoids can be changed out without too much fuss, Cam phasers are a much more invasive item to replace. If the VCT solenoids go bad, you throw trouble codes and the engine runs poorly, but will still function albeit at reduced performance. If the cam phaser has a failure/blockage, it could cause much worse symptoms in extreme cases, but usually just causes the infamous cam phaser diesel-clattering. In your case, the failed lifter was much more damaging to engine internals, including the camshaft.
Funny, I just thought it was a bad case of cam phaser failure and haven't been too concerned.
However, It did "tick" alot louder and meaner than my Green '04 ever did though. That truck just "clattered" on both sides for more than 75K miles.
Who knew
However, It did "tick" alot louder and meaner than my Green '04 ever did though. That truck just "clattered" on both sides for more than 75K miles.
Who knew
Today is the day! Well today I finally get to drive my truck once again. I bought a used engine from a Salvage yard, supposedly with 36K miles on it. My shop got it installed and started yesterday. He said it idles and sounds great. He went ahead and changed the plugs and did an oil change for me.
However, in the process they broke a little clip on the tranny linkage or something so they ordered that little part and is gonna install that this morning. Once he installs that, he's gonna take it out for a drive to be sure everything is running right.
He said he'd call me to come get it.
So glad this is almost over and I and my truck can move on.
However, in the process they broke a little clip on the tranny linkage or something so they ordered that little part and is gonna install that this morning. Once he installs that, he's gonna take it out for a drive to be sure everything is running right.
He said he'd call me to come get it.
So glad this is almost over and I and my truck can move on.
Last edited by pethel; Sep 18, 2014 at 06:57 AM.

Big smiles and a frown.Been driving all afternoon. WOW what a difference a motor can make.
I had no idea my old motor was hurt that bad. This one runs so smooth and is perfectly quiet at idle. Solid power again too!
Now for the frown
This truck has been tough on my wallet this summer.-Used 36K mile engine=$2200
-engine install=$1800
-new plugs, oil change, tranny cable, serpentine belt, ect,ect. =$350
-new throttle body=$300
-new Magnaflow catts (installed)= $500
Thats $5150 bucks Jeez
I should be good for awhile though.
Last edited by pethel; Sep 18, 2014 at 07:03 PM.
Same thing happened to mine at 116,000 miles, with the added bonus of a fractured camshaft. You got off cheaper than I did ... just under $8000 for a crate motor installed.
Runs like a new truck now. Feels good, doesn't it ?
Runs like a new truck now. Feels good, doesn't it ?
Now, it purrs like a kitten.
I might just drive this thing for a few more years and get my money out of it before I trade up.
Not all that surprising considering what the new engine has probably been through -- a major accident of some kind, yanked out of one truck, transported to your mechanic at God only knows what angle, picked up and dropped into another truck! That's a lot of twisting and turning and grabbing that an engine doesn't normally go through!
Not all that surprising considering what the new engine has probably been through -- a major accident of some kind, yanked out of one truck, transported to your mechanic at God only knows what angle, picked up and dropped into another truck! That's a lot of twisting and turning and grabbing that an engine doesn't normally go through!
I've got my ears tuned for any kind of noise at this point. After all I've been through with this truck, I'm pretty sensitive to ticking sounds right now. LOL
I read the post, looks like you made out with that engine, what you paid seems really reasonable for the parts and install. Less than 2k for install? Wow, I bet the dealers around here charge 5k labor, spark plugs alone are $700!


