CAM Swap Nightmare - looking for clarification

Hey guys,

I have an 09 Hemi Sport. A valve stuck and roasted the cam 6 weeks ago. I asked the shop to do an upgraded cam and after putting it back together and hand turning it, they have a piston hitting a valve.

I asked for a mild cam and they installed a Comp Cam 266. They had a "specialist" come and look at it and he thinks the Cam is wrong. After looking at the specs, on Summit it says it only fits years 2010 and above. Mine's an 09.

Comparing the specs to Moes high performance cam.

**266 Specs:**

Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 226
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 int./226 exh.
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 279
Advertised Duration: 266 int./279 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.612 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.605 in.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.612 int./0.605 exh.
Lobe Separation (degrees): 114

**Moes High Performance Cam Specs**

Duration @ .050: 210 Int/218 Exh
Lift: .587 Int/.580 Exh
Lobe Separation: 112


Question for the Cam experts is, is the 266 wrong for this 09? They said they verified the timing.

Also, new springs were already installed along with a full valve job. I'm assuming this will work with Moe's cam should I need to go that route.

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

-Kris

I have done multiple cam swaps on Hemi engines. It sounds like either they timed it wrong or did not install a cam phase limiter... Maybe both.

They put the limiter in that came with the cam I verified that with them. Can those be installed wrong? My brother thinks it's timing and based on my research I think it's off too. They said they verified the marks line up but were wishy washy when I asked about degreeing.

There is nothing different between the 2009 and 2010, so they either did not install the cam properly, or did not install the phaser limiter.

They may have lined up the cam but if cylinder one was not exactly at top dead center it will still be off. I would lean on this being an install issue for sure.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Anyone have a write up that shows exactly what to do? Any links I can forward to them?

Of the 3 guys I know who have this cam in there 4th Gen, none of us had PV issues at the install height. I think they have not installed the cam with the correct intake centerline of 109 degrees. It definitely also could be timing but it really is hard to screw that up. I've had them jump a tooth during chain install but usually you will want to double check all that before you start turning anything. Don't know! You're guys should be able to figure it out. They can always call Comp tech.

What I do know is if your having trouble already with this cam, you could be in for a lot of frustrations. If you keep this cam, you definitely need a tuner who has experience with this series of comp cams. AJ (Hemituner), Mike Doben(OST dyno) or Josh (HHP), Otherwise rip it out and have Moe's, or Jay's cam put in.

I will say that the 266 is a very high lift for the 5.7L and would not be my first, second, or third choice for cams. It sounds like the shop just picked a cam and didn't do any research on it; that cam needs stronger springs, not just new ones, so ask if they installed the PSI 1511 springs or if it's just factory springs. Be glad they didn't pick the 274 or you'd hate driving the truck afterwards.


If there is a PTV issue then it's installation error. That cam should not have any issues with clearance issues unless it's not installed on the proper centerline or if they sent the wrong cam. There is no difference between a 2009 and 2010 engine, both are VVT 5.7L engines, the change was between 2008 and 2009 when they went to the Eagle which is the VVT 5.7L. I would definitely double check the cam/crank timing; set the cam mark at 12 o'clock and use the extension/rod in cylinder 1 to set TDC as some aftermarket cams don't align with the factory chain marks.

I've degreed in cams on SB's and BB's, but have never worked on a 3rd generation Hemi. Is there room to reach thru the pushrod hole in the head to set the plunger for dial indicator on the edge of the lifter? Do you need to pull the intake to put in a dummy(solid) lifter? I wouldn't think of installing an aftermarket cam without degreeing it, but it seems that nobody else does that anymore, or they're not sharing the details.

Rustycowl69 said:

I've degreed in cams on SB's and BB's, but have never worked on a 3rd generation Hemi. Is there room to reach thru the pushrod hole in the head to set the plunger for dial indicator on the edge of the lifter? Do you need to pull the intake to put in a dummy(solid) lifter? I wouldn't think of installing an aftermarket cam without degreeing it, but it seems that nobody else does that anymore, or they're not sharing the details.

Click to expand...

Degreeing will help make sure the camshaft operates correctly with your engine valves/valve timing. Basically, youre just making sure nothing happened during the manufacturing of the cam and helps you determine if you need to send the cam back or not.
To degree it isn't any different than the way you would do a motor without vct without any spring pressure or pressurized oil being fed via a activated vct solenoid the phaser is not going to move, I would reach out to Dave Webber for the how to of checking valve clearance. Great guy and I'm almost certain he work with comp testing this series of cams for them.

Sounds like an install issue to me. The Comp 270 was installed on my 09 and I haven't had the slightest issue with it. As stated previously, if your already having issues with the cam, be sure to contact a Tuner who has done a 4th gen before. Has the shop installed a cam in a 4th gen hemi before?

They got it figured out. Turns out clearance was not the issue. They think a valve guide was sticking and it fired right up. I had a custom tune from Hemifever before the cam swap and loaded an updated canned post cam tune before test driving it. Still needs some tweaking as it threw an advanced timing cel on the third test drive, and I have the wideband and gauge pillar sitting ready to go in. Only a little rpm blip after coming to a stop. Left it at the shop because I heard a whistling aound and one of the headers is leaking a smidge. On a brighter note, I spoiled myself and picked up a 2016 Scat Pack on Saturday. This thing is beast mode central. Got the 6 speed.

Not sure how to rotate the image from my phone, my bad.

Agreed a different cam could have performed better. Should have done more research but it is what it is. Wasn't originally planning on upgrading. It will be an improvement over stock with my upgrades.

**2009 HEMI QC Sport**

- McGaughy's 2/4 Drop - Debadged - Satin Black SRT-10 22's - Magnaflow Y-Pipe, Raceland E-Cutout, Magnaflow 24" - Catch-can - Motive 4:56's - Detroit Truetrac - Color Matched Sport Grill - Airlift Helper Bags w/ onboard compressor - Vararam Air Grabber - V-6 E-Fan - 180 T-Stat - Moe's 87mm TB - JBA Titanium Ceramic Coated Shorty Headers - Edge 2800 TC - Mag-Hytec Deep Tranny Pan - Hemifever Tuned - EBC Sport Rotors - Greenstuff Pads - Pioneer AVH-P4400 w/ back up camera - Diablo Intune -Hellwig Rear Swaybar - Belltech Performance Shocks - Recon Smoked LED Third Brake Light - Retroshop Projector Headlights and LED Tail Lights -Shortie Antenna -

2016 Challenger Scat Pack
2000 Dakota 3.9L 2WD RIP
2004 HEMI QC 2WD...RIP
2003 Dakota 3.9L 2WD RIP

The wide band is definitely important for tuning with email tunes/cam, and unless Hemifever is able to remote tune while on dyno, it will be really hard to bring the cams fullest potential out. Make no mistake, you should be able to melt the tires on launch.

Are you running a stall converter and if so what size

I am fixing to put the 266 in my 2012
What springs, retainers, shims should i go with i have heard the stock 6.4l springs but have also been told the install hight is to tall to use

bigjrob04 said:

I am fixing to put the 266 in my 2012
What springs, retainers, shims should i go with i have heard the stock 6.4l springs but have also been told the install hight is to tall to use

Click to expand...

A VVT engine needs PSI 1515 springs and Manley 23629-16 retainers.

PSI Valve Springs, Manley Titanium Retainer Combination (Complete Set) for 2009+ 5.7L/6.4L VVT HEMI Engines