HKusp
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2021
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- Location
- Hampton, Md.
- First Name
- Jason
- Vehicle(s)
- 2018 Mustang GT
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- #1
As the title says, I have been fighting cam correlation and timing codes for almost the entire time I have had the built engine back in the car. I mentioned in another thread (that I kind of hijacked, sorry OP) that I was having this issue and noted what we thought had happened. It turns out that after many months of searching and trying to solve the issue, we may have finally stumbled upon it.
Some background: I broke a ring land a few years ago, and had a built shortblock done with stock new block, stock new crank, Manley 11:1 Pistons, and H-tuff rods, all ARP hardware everywhere, etc. We gapped it for boost. I had the original heads refreshed, with new Ford valves, and PAC springs. I re-used the Cams, but upgraded the cam cap hardware to ARP as well. A few friends, some professional mechanics and shop owners, and myself put the engine in.
After we got it up and running, I kept having issues with boost building in the crank case and blowing out the gasket between the oil pan and the block. I tried venting boost to atmosphere, and replaced the oil pan gasket, to no avail. I then bought PBH's metal Gen1/Gen2 oil pan conversion. Once I had that installed, it seemed to solve the pressure oil leak issue which was great! Then a few weeks later I started having random low oil pressure when running semi high RPM's under load. I called PBH and asked if there could be an issue and they said they have TONS of those pans out there and if there was an issue they would have heard about it. They said it COULD be something they haven't heard of but they doubted it. So I replaced oil pump gears, oil filter housing and sending unit 3 times. No luck. Kept having somewhat random low oil pressure at higher RPM's. I kept driving the car, and trying not to beat on it too hard while this was going on, though I probably shouldn't have.
I have had the front of the engine off and re-timed this car 4 times now and every time the cam correlation codes would come back. When I built the engine, I used FRPP phasers, chains, sprocket, tensioners and guides, so I was pretty sure it wasn't them. We eventually replaced every solenoid, checked continuity on the ENTIRE harness, started with a new cam sensor, replaced it with another new one, both from Ford, no aftermarket junk, still cam codes. Just bought all new FRPP phasers, chains, guides, and upgraded to Boss 302 tensioners. Had a new, stock oil pan put back oil to hopefully address the low oil pressure issue that I suspect was caused by the PBH pan. Put it all back together and cam correlation codes cam back, but no low oil pressure, so partial success.
Had a mobile tech from Ford look at the car and he said there has got to be a mechanical explanation for this and he suspected the cams themselves. He was right. He mentioned when he looked at the heads with the cam covers off without anyone saying anything to him about it, "This engine had an intermittent low oil pressure situation, didn't it?" Yes, yes it did... He said there are teflon rings under the cam caps at the very front where it bridges between the two cams. They were missing. It helps keep oil up in the top of the heads and oils the cams.
When the cams were in neutral, 3 valves were starting to open on the drivers side intake cam, and three on the passenger side exhaust cam. As you may or may not know, these cams are hollow and the lobes are pressed on. They CAN move. They're NOT supposed to, but they can if conditions like low oil pressure occur. (Go figure) So long story not short cams are trashed, heads are trashed, so I had to get a new (to me) set of heads and cams from a 2019 with about 50K miles on them. We are in the midst of the swap this week in the evenings. we are going to re-use the PAC springs and ARP hardware, but nothing else from the old heads. I will report back if this ends up being the solution. One thing for sure, is, the car needed cams and heads replaced.
Some background: I broke a ring land a few years ago, and had a built shortblock done with stock new block, stock new crank, Manley 11:1 Pistons, and H-tuff rods, all ARP hardware everywhere, etc. We gapped it for boost. I had the original heads refreshed, with new Ford valves, and PAC springs. I re-used the Cams, but upgraded the cam cap hardware to ARP as well. A few friends, some professional mechanics and shop owners, and myself put the engine in.
After we got it up and running, I kept having issues with boost building in the crank case and blowing out the gasket between the oil pan and the block. I tried venting boost to atmosphere, and replaced the oil pan gasket, to no avail. I then bought PBH's metal Gen1/Gen2 oil pan conversion. Once I had that installed, it seemed to solve the pressure oil leak issue which was great! Then a few weeks later I started having random low oil pressure when running semi high RPM's under load. I called PBH and asked if there could be an issue and they said they have TONS of those pans out there and if there was an issue they would have heard about it. They said it COULD be something they haven't heard of but they doubted it. So I replaced oil pump gears, oil filter housing and sending unit 3 times. No luck. Kept having somewhat random low oil pressure at higher RPM's. I kept driving the car, and trying not to beat on it too hard while this was going on, though I probably shouldn't have.
I have had the front of the engine off and re-timed this car 4 times now and every time the cam correlation codes would come back. When I built the engine, I used FRPP phasers, chains, sprocket, tensioners and guides, so I was pretty sure it wasn't them. We eventually replaced every solenoid, checked continuity on the ENTIRE harness, started with a new cam sensor, replaced it with another new one, both from Ford, no aftermarket junk, still cam codes. Just bought all new FRPP phasers, chains, guides, and upgraded to Boss 302 tensioners. Had a new, stock oil pan put back oil to hopefully address the low oil pressure issue that I suspect was caused by the PBH pan. Put it all back together and cam correlation codes cam back, but no low oil pressure, so partial success.
Had a mobile tech from Ford look at the car and he said there has got to be a mechanical explanation for this and he suspected the cams themselves. He was right. He mentioned when he looked at the heads with the cam covers off without anyone saying anything to him about it, "This engine had an intermittent low oil pressure situation, didn't it?" Yes, yes it did... He said there are teflon rings under the cam caps at the very front where it bridges between the two cams. They were missing. It helps keep oil up in the top of the heads and oils the cams.
When the cams were in neutral, 3 valves were starting to open on the drivers side intake cam, and three on the passenger side exhaust cam. As you may or may not know, these cams are hollow and the lobes are pressed on. They CAN move. They're NOT supposed to, but they can if conditions like low oil pressure occur. (Go figure) So long story not short cams are trashed, heads are trashed, so I had to get a new (to me) set of heads and cams from a 2019 with about 50K miles on them. We are in the midst of the swap this week in the evenings. we are going to re-use the PAC springs and ARP hardware, but nothing else from the old heads. I will report back if this ends up being the solution. One thing for sure, is, the car needed cams and heads replaced.
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