Can Excaliber Save Me?
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Grand Rapids MI
Can Excaliber Save Me?
I recently had a cylinder head issue and took it to a major shop for fixing, after the repair my idle was terribly rough and I had no power at all. So they "fixed" it again, now the idle is fine but I still have no power especially getting on highways or passing, Im thinking the computer program they "reset" is still jacked. So my question is can the highly esteemed Excaliber II reprogram my computer and fix my horrible power problems? Or am I doomed?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: North Canton, Ohio
Originally Posted by breaker
I recently had a cylinder head issue and took it to a major shop for fixing, after the repair my idle was terribly rough and I had no power at all. So they "fixed" it again, now the idle is fine but I still have no power especially getting on highways or passing, Im thinking the computer program they "reset" is still jacked. So my question is can the highly esteemed Excaliber II reprogram my computer and fix my horrible power problems? Or am I doomed?
It can if you provide Mike with all the information pertaining to your truck and let him custom tune it for you. I would defiantely give him a call and I bet you anything you will be "GLAD" you did....
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Joined: Jun 2005
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This could be more than just a tune issue. A fair number of years back, I got a vehicle back from having the head and intake worked on and they got it all wrong. One of the head gaskets leaked and the wiring harness was plugged in wrong. It ran very poorly indeed.
I'd want to get the truck running right first before adding a performance tune.
Enjoy.
I'd want to get the truck running right first before adding a performance tune.
Enjoy.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hi Breaker,
This is something for the "Engines" forum, just so you know.
Les brings up a good point - while yes, as Marc Carpenter kindly mentioned, we can do wonders with the tuning of that vehicle, I am concerned that this "major" shop did something wrong - like timed the camshafts wrong, for example, as there is *NO* reason your power should be reduced from a cylinder head job. And there's really nothing they should be able to do in the PCM's program that would kill power - now I'm assuming we're talking about a late-model F-150 of course, as that is what we're about here at F-150 Online.
That vehicle needs to be looked at by someone who knows what they're doing to check to make sure the cams are timed properly - that is a must in ALL Ford "modular" engines - that includes all 4.6's, 5.4's, and 6.8 V-10's, too. They are what's called a "interference" engine - meaning if the cams are far off enough (and it doesn't sound like that is your problem or at least, not to *that* degree), like if the cam timing chain(s) breaks, you can run the valves into the pistons in a worst-case scenario - referred to as an "interference" type engine. What may be happening in your case is that they simply have the cams timed wrong, and that has caused them to be retarded, and thus killing power.
This is one scenario in which I would NOT just want to throw a tune at it, I'd want to check everything out first - give it a thorough visual inspection to verify everything is connected properly, etc. and then also data log the vehicle - plug in a WDS or other scan tool and check all the various relevant PID's to look at camshaft timing and all other engine operational parameters, etc. In this kind of scenario where a cylinder head has been removed from a modular motor, if it's not something simple like a vacuum line connected wrong, etc., then it can be the cams are just not be timed right, and thus killing power. That shop (or the individual mechanic) may not be familiar with properly phasing (timing) the cams in these Ford "modular" motors when they reassemble the motor after a cylinder head job.
So have someone who *knows* Ford modular motors (and I'm *assuming* you have a 4.6 or 5.4 V8 engine in an F-150?) specifically look over that underhood very carefully and see what's up - there are many shops that do *great* work but who just don't know how to properly time the cams on Ford "modular" motors - whether it's a 2-valve, 3-valve or 4-valve, these modular motors aren't like other engines that have the cam in the block like a "conventional" engine, these Ford modulars have overhead cams & thus it's much easier to make a mistake with cam timing on reassembly.
This really cannot be properly diagnosed here, that is going to require a good wrench who knows that vehicle and these engines specifically.
Good luck!
This is something for the "Engines" forum, just so you know.
Les brings up a good point - while yes, as Marc Carpenter kindly mentioned, we can do wonders with the tuning of that vehicle, I am concerned that this "major" shop did something wrong - like timed the camshafts wrong, for example, as there is *NO* reason your power should be reduced from a cylinder head job. And there's really nothing they should be able to do in the PCM's program that would kill power - now I'm assuming we're talking about a late-model F-150 of course, as that is what we're about here at F-150 Online.
That vehicle needs to be looked at by someone who knows what they're doing to check to make sure the cams are timed properly - that is a must in ALL Ford "modular" engines - that includes all 4.6's, 5.4's, and 6.8 V-10's, too. They are what's called a "interference" engine - meaning if the cams are far off enough (and it doesn't sound like that is your problem or at least, not to *that* degree), like if the cam timing chain(s) breaks, you can run the valves into the pistons in a worst-case scenario - referred to as an "interference" type engine. What may be happening in your case is that they simply have the cams timed wrong, and that has caused them to be retarded, and thus killing power.
This is one scenario in which I would NOT just want to throw a tune at it, I'd want to check everything out first - give it a thorough visual inspection to verify everything is connected properly, etc. and then also data log the vehicle - plug in a WDS or other scan tool and check all the various relevant PID's to look at camshaft timing and all other engine operational parameters, etc. In this kind of scenario where a cylinder head has been removed from a modular motor, if it's not something simple like a vacuum line connected wrong, etc., then it can be the cams are just not be timed right, and thus killing power. That shop (or the individual mechanic) may not be familiar with properly phasing (timing) the cams in these Ford "modular" motors when they reassemble the motor after a cylinder head job.
So have someone who *knows* Ford modular motors (and I'm *assuming* you have a 4.6 or 5.4 V8 engine in an F-150?) specifically look over that underhood very carefully and see what's up - there are many shops that do *great* work but who just don't know how to properly time the cams on Ford "modular" motors - whether it's a 2-valve, 3-valve or 4-valve, these modular motors aren't like other engines that have the cam in the block like a "conventional" engine, these Ford modulars have overhead cams & thus it's much easier to make a mistake with cam timing on reassembly.
This really cannot be properly diagnosed here, that is going to require a good wrench who knows that vehicle and these engines specifically.
Good luck!
Last edited by Superchips_Distributor; Jul 7, 2005 at 12:09 PM.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
You're very welcome Breaker - and remember, that is just a *guess* on my part - I could very well be completely wrong! It's just something that needs to be checked if nothing else can be found to explain the cause of a big drop in power after a cylinder head job on a Ford modular motor.
Good luck!
Good luck!