Changing the cam position sensor isnt that easy you have to clock it right, that could be your problem its not clocked right. dunno. and carb suck compared to MPI. Just thought id put that in there

 

its different than a 97-03? there wasnt any way to clock the sensor in that front timing cover.

 

I was going to send you them for free, not like I dont have three more sets of them. It just pee'ed me off to hear that dealer price quote. Price it out, even thru different Ford dealers. Dealers who are online line with their parts department charge whatever they want. I have found up to about a 100% difference in the same part from different dealers sites. It also doesnt hurt trying EvilBay.

Now on another note, responding to X SGS X comment about carburetors. You are either too young or dare I say ignorant in making that comment!!!

I have build too many motors to count, I'm 39 years old and learned from real hotrodders. BUT, I'm not too old to have done some potent FI motor with custom tunes as well. I have had many a car build by myself and boats with basically automotive based engines. If you think that carburation is that sucky your a fool who does not know your A_S from your ELB_W!! I've had as well as my friend and working mechanics MANY MORE larger displacement engines carbed putting out more power while getting better MPG's than most FI engines.

Lowflyingbird

 

Well im speaking with 4.2 experience so who knows

 

Comparing a carbuator to MPI is what im reffering to, im also talking about reliability, tuneibility and streetability.

 

with the stock 5.0 in my 89 f-150 i got 9 mpg i ditched the fuel injection threw on a little 570 holley, big cam, ported the hell outa the heads my self bigger valves springs ect., air gap intake hei dizzy with an accell coil and ford racing wires and a 3500 stall converter, some long tube headers, 2.5in duel exhaust and turbo mufflers, accell filter and now i get 15mpg with 33s and 3.73s on my gas mileage tune and 12mpg with advaced timing and a different secondary spring+ there are o sensors to go bad i just cut all the wires out and threw the sensors in the trash

ps: i also build race motors on the side and this was just spare parts i had sitting around for the most part probably only spend like $400 to do this and originally did it because the motor would go crazy when i went in water past the oil pan

 

I would be inclined to find a good sized independant shop that specializes in Ford. At the very least, the shop should specialize in the American brands. I am always leary of the independants who claim too be experts in American, Japanese, korean, and European brands. Hard to be an expert in everything.
I am also leary of messing with anything that could screw up valve timing. I have seen pistons crash into valves. This will definitely increase your repair bill.
You are only $91 into a $2,400 repair. I think it is worth a second opinion for such a large expensive job. Even if you spent $50 or more to have it towed elsewhere, you are still likely to be money ahead. The dealers tend to make a lot of money off of the 'Big Jobs'.
I have also seen bad timing chains and belts. If the car even starts, it misses and backfires. You definitely know when you have this problem. This makes me doubt the diagnosis.
I do not blame you for not tackling the repair yourself. I also would want a mechanic to get it right. In the longrun, you will possibly add years to your engine life.
Good luck.

 

You simply can not even start to compare the simplicity , reliability and durability of carburation!!
SORRY TO HI JACK THIS POST,
My last carbed 302 was a 91 Mustang shortblock with late 60's heads bringing the comp. to over 10:1 it had a stupid oversize cam in the neighborhood of 496/512 with a set of headers and 4barrel intake and Holley 4180 carb ( I'm a Carter person now). It orig got about 11mpg after I was done, even slamming the pedal thru the floor at ever chance I got, it gave me over 19mpg!!! It was hooked up to an AOD trans (with shift kit) and a set of dead 273 gears. A little kid on a big wheel's could beat me off the line,But I'll tell you, Pee me off on the hiway at over 80 and I would slam it into second, pin the tach and launch that car at over 150. YEAH, NO BS. at or over 150 easy!! You wouldnt even know what just passed you.

Lowflyingbird

 

Hey guys, update here.


So I took my truck in at my local Ford dealer. I showed them the estimate that the other dealer had given me. Also I showed the parts the dealer had down that I would need. The first thing the service manager asked me, is what he charged to break it down. I just laughed and said all they done was read the code and done a diagnotics. Then he went on to tell me that there was no way you would know what needs to be replaced without tearing it down. I let him know that I already knew that, thats why i'm getting a second opinion. Several of the guy there, made it seem like it was just a sensor gone bad. One even said that the tensioner could be bad, but doubted that would be it. As far as the labor involved, they said it was a PITA to do work on. So I asked him, lets just say that I need everything listed on that estimate, how much we looking at. He said it wouldn't be $2400. He later told me that the dealer I took it to charged $92 for labor, whereas, they just charge $75. But he said more than likely it was a sensor. He told me to bring her in Wed. morning and they would look at it free of charge. He said if it wasn't the sensor then they would have to break it all down. Even at that he said he would be shocked to find I would need all that crap that the other dealer claimed I would need. The dude has been there for over 30 years, and he said he's never seen the last 2 generation of F-150's that would have to have all that done. So thats where I stand as of now, hopefully it won't be as bad as it seems. I've spent way too much $$$ on this truck already, mainly mods and such, and I'm to the point where I'm trying to save money then this happens. But thats life, I guess. I'll keep everybody posted in the next few days. Thanks guys!

 

 

Now that sounds like one of the good guys not trying to BS you on parts

Hope it's something simply

 

there you go, you found a more honest guy.

 

Yea, he was honest. Hopefully, we can find the problem without having to replace everything just to say its fixed. Funny thing is, since it died on me Friday afternoon, it has not died on me anymore. Same way it has been doing for awhile now.

 

No way is a carb conversion appropriate for this vehicle with this issue. It just needs to be fixed properly by a shop that is not out to rip everyone off. It sounds like the dealer where you have it now is going to do exactly that.

 

I like the way YOUR dealer treated you! I know there are honest dealerships out there, just as there are honest independent shops. The trick is, to find them. Once you do though, hang on to them!

- Jack