Neighbor with a 2012 Ram just swung by and asked if I could do a cam. I told him let me do a little homework so we can manage expectations. Will I need any crazy special tools to do this? Is it as straightforward as doing a cam on a small block or LS? Obviously lifters are junk, may as well toss a timing chain and gears at it. Anything else get wiped out in the process?
2012 Ram Ate A Cam, Anything I should know?
- Thread starter Supercharged111
- Start date
To me wiping out a cam means there is most likely debris and metal shavings throughout the engine.
I have seen many times where people try to flush out the engine (SBC and BBC) with multiple oil and filter changes (even members on here} only to have the engine fail later after installing new cam and lifters etc. Instead of doing a complete teardown.
I have seen many times where people try to flush out the engine (SBC and BBC) with multiple oil and filter changes (even members on here} only to have the engine fail later after installing new cam and lifters etc. Instead of doing a complete teardown.
I'm assuming this a 5.7L Hemi? They are known for eating cams and lifters. Definitely more involved than doing a SBC or BBC. I wouldn't want to do it in the truck. You've got to pull the heads to replace the lifters. The timing chain area has a lot going on; not bad, but it's busy. The oil pump sits over the crank, there is a VVT gear on the cam, and a tensioner (can't remember if it is spring or hydraulic) on the chain.
The oil pan is baffled and will be filled with glitter that has to be wiped out, so you've got to pull the pan to clean it all out properly.
The oil pan is baffled and will be filled with glitter that has to be wiped out, so you've got to pull the pan to clean it all out properly.
Kinda like an LS in that you have to yank the heads to do lifters. He already had the exhaust manifolds regasketed or replaced, so should be easy to get those separated from the rest of the exhaust. This video is pretty good.
I'm not looking to buy the thing, just fix it for the guy. I bought my dually with a wiped out cam back in 2016. Swapped it out, new lifters, but also rolled fresh bearings into that one. Still going today with good oil pressure. Sample size of 1 though.
Now to find how many book hours are billed for this. . .
I'm not looking to buy the thing, just fix it for the guy. I bought my dually with a wiped out cam back in 2016. Swapped it out, new lifters, but also rolled fresh bearings into that one. Still going today with good oil pressure. Sample size of 1 though.
Now to find how many book hours are billed for this. . .
Last edited:
Well maybe I'm showing my age, but eating cams is not new. SBC had a huge problem in the 70's with soft cores and would wipe the lobes off. K
No one tore the engines down and rebuilt them. They slapped a new cam and lifters in and drove them. Does that mean they didn't have engine failures soon there after on some, nope. But a vast majority were fine. Just my .02
No one tore the engines down and rebuilt them. They slapped a new cam and lifters in and drove them. Does that mean they didn't have engine failures soon there after on some, nope. But a vast majority were fine. Just my .02
Engine tolerances back then were not a tight as these new ones are. That older stuff could run on molasses and be fine. This newer stuff the oil is damn near water. Anything too thick you'll lock it up.
That's completely incorrect and false. Bearing clearances for a SBC, LSX, and the LTX variations are actually identical.... the ONLY thing that has changed is the "recommended" oil weight. And the ONLY reason that has changed is because thinner oil requires less hp to pump, and increases your mpg by some absolutely miniscule amount.
