I recently installed the trickflow trackheat kit on my 93 5.0. The first time i started her up the timing chain blasted through the timing chain cover and I bent 4 intake valves, metal was all in my oil pan, It was a disaster. I sent everything back to trick flow and this is what they said: Chad, After both visually inspecting & dimensionally checking everything that was sent in, We have determined the reason for the failure to be insufficient camshaft endplay. As you are well aware, Endplay is the ability of the camshaft to move back & forth in the block. The minimum is .001", The maximum is .007". We are willing to repair the heads & sell you the required components at a reduced price. For example: Intake valves: normal cost $12.95 each, I will sell them to you at $8.50 each. Head install gasket kit: normally goes for $90.95, Your cost would be $64.95. Timing Chain: normally goes for $63.39, Your cost is $50.00. Camshaft: normally goes for $159.95, Your cost $115.00. (Your camshaft is reusable but would require refacing the end of the camshaft to make it so. We do not have the capability to do this operation in house, Sorry...) If you want, You can use a standard double row timing chain, That is not a problem at all. If you are interested in a standard double row chain, I can sell you one at $25.00... Please make sure your friend verifies the camshaft endplay in his block before final assembly!... Thanks, Art Kakiou TFS Tech Advisor Has anyone had to deal with this before? Please give me your input!!!
Sounds like to me that YOU forgot to install the camshaft trust plate!! Maybe you were in a hurry to hear that beast come to life????? Take your time and learn from your mistakes. Small errors can be costly! Hopefully that was what happened and you don't have anything else majorly wrong.. Sorry to hear the bad news
Thrust Plate Oh no, the thrust plate was definately on. The only thing is that TF required me to countersink the screws into the thrust plate which might of weakened it???
Why would you countersink the screws in the Thrustplate? The screws clear the cam sprocket.The cam sprocket is off set. Did you install the cam sprocket backwards? If so this will move the chain forward. The bottom crank sprocket will slide forward too as this sprocket is a slip fit not a press fit.
Why??? In the H/C/I Kit I bought it cam with a new timing chain also and new allen head bolts for the thrust plate. And in the instructions I recieved it said to counter sink the allen head bolts into the thrust plate??? New style timing chain I guess......
Well when you pulled it down, was the cam thrust plate broken? Were the bolts that hold it on alright? Did the cam move forward any? Was the timing chaing top sproket still attached to the cam? We gotta figure this one out!
End play is important but I have never ran into an issue on a stock block. I also have never countersunk any bolts into the stock thrust plate, the stock thin headed bolts clear the timing chain if not you have issues somewhere else.
Ahhhhhhhh Yep, the cam thrust plate was destroyed! One of the allenhead bolts that held it was completly broken off and the other was bent to the block. The cam diddnt seem to move foward when I had it all back apart. Timing chain was still attached to the cam but was in the process of coming off the sprocket.
I would love to see some pics of the broken thrust plate. If you can't post them, can you pm me? If you have pics of the bolts in the block (as they were when you took things apart), I may be able to help see the problem. This is fairly close to what I do for $. I hope you have better luck with the next build. It seems to me that TF has very good customer service. They are giving you a discount for parts damaged due to something other than their deffective parts. Pretty impressive. Most companies would replace the cam, and only if the cam was not properly fab'd. jason
I'd like to see the pics to, since I am a engine builder I may be able to point out your issue as well. Rick91GT@suscom.net You got a hold of someone good at TFS, I have had less then stellar support from them in the past.
For some reason I can't understand Trick Flow using allen bolts to hold on the thrustplate. Then telling you to countersink them. The stock thrustplate is very thin and by countersinking them you take the meat out of it. I'm Not familiar with the Trickflow stuff so you'll have to forgive me. I understand the reason to countersink the thrust plate. To get the bolts away from the cam sprocket but there isn't much to countersink. Did they tell you to grind down the head of the allenbolts too? The allenbolts usually have a thick head on them. It sounds like the cam sprocket hit the bolts while turning Therefore breaking one off and then bending the other one down. Take your time putting it back together. Good luck! As far as Trickflow doing anything for you.They probably feel they are giving you a good deal on the reduced cost of the parts. This is a no win situation for both parties involved. Atleast they are trying to work with you.
Posting Pics http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a307/Thechad808/IMG_1008.jpg http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a307/Thechad808/2ae62ee1.jpg http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a307/Thechad808/IMG_1010.jpg http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a307/Thechad808/IMG_1016.jpg
Damn Ive never seen that happen before, One thing I highly recommend is get that Fram off there before the next time u start her. My friend had bad experiences from them along with many others.
Good news!! TrickFlow has offered to: Repair the heads at no cost. Give me a standard double row timing chain. Give me a complete Fel-Pro gasket set. Give me a camshaft and a free t-shirt not too bad. Customer Service turned out to be damn good!
That is really odd that they would use allen bolts. Allen bolts typically have to be taller to get more meat on the wrench then they suggest to countersink it to compensate for the added height.... how wierd. A grade 5 or 8 bolt should have done the job. I'm glad they are owning up for their mistake. Too bad they won't cover the rest of the engine damage. Kevin
I have never seen that happen before! The only Ford engines I ever saw with countersunk thrust plate screws were the 221, 260, and early 289 engines (back in the 5 bolt bellhousing days).
