Cam/Lifters Update

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

CunningStunt

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 12, 2017
Posts
334
Reaction score
309
Location
Abbeville, AL
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi 4X4 Crew White/Chrome
I got the cam, lifters, timing set, and head gaskets installed. Putting heads on and hopefully rocker assemblies/pushrods this afternoon.

A couple questions:

-Harmonic balancer...what's the "proper" procedure for installing the balancer back on the crank?
-Best RTV to use for timing cover/oil pan surface

-What's the break in process, oil/filters, quantity of oil changes and at what increments before she is ready to be driven on the regular?

-While installing the cam, I got some assembly lube on the camshaft bolt while using it for leverage to install the cam. Should I try to clean that off and blow out the camshaft bolt hole before torqueing to spec?
 

DILLIGAF

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 28, 2016
Posts
4,216
Reaction score
7,551
Location
Canada
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
Use the old balancer bolt to set it back into place. I just used my 1/2 Milwaukee impact...lol...
Im a big fan of Victor Reinz REINZOSIL RTV.
As for break-in, everyone has a different opinion. Since its just a cam swap I didn't bother. and did an oil change at 1000km.
 
OP
OP
CunningStunt

CunningStunt

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 12, 2017
Posts
334
Reaction score
309
Location
Abbeville, AL
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi 4X4 Crew White/Chrome
I started getting heads ready to go onto the block and when putting the passenger side spark plugs in the head, I stripped 2 holes! I have the special tool and all! I went counterclockwise till i felt the thread and then started and in both holes that stripped, I got a quarter of the way in before binding. Taking it into the machine shop in the AM to retap...B.S.

The driver's side plugs threaded in without issue so I removed one from each cylinder (So I can turn the crank to check rocker/pushrods are seated correctly), and got the heads, rocker arms, and pushrods installed and seated. All went well on the driver's side. I was so flippin' pi553d though when threading those plugs in man...really threw a wrench in my spokes as I had a vision of having heads on today and starting with the rest of the peripherals friday for hopefully running this weekend...
 

RamRod37

2014 Ram 2500 HD 5.7 Hemi
Joined
Jun 28, 2014
Posts
478
Reaction score
504
Location
Georgetown TN
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi
I started getting heads ready to go onto the block and when putting the passenger side spark plugs in the head, I stripped 2 holes! I have the special tool and all! I went counterclockwise till i felt the thread and then started and in both holes that stripped, I got a quarter of the way in before binding. Taking it into the machine shop in the AM to retap...B.S.

The driver's side plugs threaded in without issue so I removed one from each cylinder (So I can turn the crank to check rocker/pushrods are seated correctly), and got the heads, rocker arms, and pushrods installed and seated. All went well on the driver's side. I was so flippin' pi553d though when threading those plugs in man...really threw a wrench in my spokes as I had a vision of having heads on today and starting with the rest of the peripherals friday for hopefully running this weekend...
At least you did not do what I did when I done mine got the heads all back on ready to put pushrods in then realized once I could not find the bottom setting in my pushrods omg I forgot to put the dang new lifters in that was a hour to redo yeah was not happy with myself for that but she now has over 9k miles since
 
OP
OP
CunningStunt

CunningStunt

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 12, 2017
Posts
334
Reaction score
309
Location
Abbeville, AL
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi 4X4 Crew White/Chrome
At least you did not do what I did when I done mine got the heads all back on ready to put pushrods in then realized once I could not find the bottom setting in my pushrods omg I forgot to put the dang new lifters in that was a hour to redo yeah was not happy with myself for that but she now has over 9k miles since
Dang! Did you torque the heads and did the pushrods fall into the oil pan before you realized? lol
 

RamRod37

2014 Ram 2500 HD 5.7 Hemi
Joined
Jun 28, 2014
Posts
478
Reaction score
504
Location
Georgetown TN
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi
Dang! Did you torque the heads and did the pushrods fall into the oil pan before you realized? lol
yeah heads was torqued done and no over time I have made it a habit to not let go of push rod till I know it seated that was the problem there was nothing there so could not let go then it was like someone hit me up side the head DUH lifters still on table. its funny now but still ticks me off I did it
 
Last edited:

Wild one

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
13,718
Reaction score
23,373
Ram Year
14 Sport
Engine
5.7
yeah heads was torqued done and no over time I have made it a habit to not let go of push rod till I know it seated that was the problem there was nothing there so could not let go then it was like someone hit me up side the head DUH lifters still on table. its funny now but still ticks me off I did it
Don't worry you're not the only one who's had a brain fart while working on something,lol :rolleyes: :Big Laugh:
 
OP
OP
CunningStunt

CunningStunt

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 12, 2017
Posts
334
Reaction score
309
Location
Abbeville, AL
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi 4X4 Crew White/Chrome
Use the old balancer bolt to set it back into place. I just used my 1/2 Milwaukee impact...lol...
Im a big fan of Victor Reinz REINZOSIL RTV.
As for break-in, everyone has a different opinion. Since its just a cam swap I didn't bother. and did an oil change at 1000km.
Should I heat the harmonic balancer or will an impact have enough force to drive it on without binding it?
 

Crooks1130

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2021
Posts
36
Reaction score
47
Location
Louisiana
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7
You raw-dawg it or should I apply some spit?
I’ve done it by hand and torqued to spec before and have also don’t the impact and called it good, never seen an issue with either. No Lube, raw dog it in there. Use the old one to push it in and seat it, then swap it out for your new one and torque it down.
 

Crooks1130

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2021
Posts
36
Reaction score
47
Location
Louisiana
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7
If you do it by hand, just find a way to jam it from turning and it goes on pretty east
 
OP
OP
CunningStunt

CunningStunt

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 12, 2017
Posts
334
Reaction score
309
Location
Abbeville, AL
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi 4X4 Crew White/Chrome
I’ve done it by hand and torqued to spec before and have also don’t the impact and called it good, never seen an issue with either. No Lube, raw dog it in there. Use the old one to push it in and seat it, then swap it out for your new one and torque it down.
Right on man, thanks. I am reusing crankshaft bolt so ill just torque it. Thanks!
 
OP
OP
CunningStunt

CunningStunt

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 12, 2017
Posts
334
Reaction score
309
Location
Abbeville, AL
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi 4X4 Crew White/Chrome
Ok Cur

ok wondering how things went did you get her back together yet
Duuuuude!!! I am so close! I got everything in except fan/clutch and shroud and upper radiator hose, and I need to bolt the passenger side exhaust to downpipe. I will be cranking her up this afternoon, come hell or high water. BTW, **** the engineer that put the o2 sensor in the way of the bolt head on the drivers side.
 

RamRod37

2014 Ram 2500 HD 5.7 Hemi
Joined
Jun 28, 2014
Posts
478
Reaction score
504
Location
Georgetown TN
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L Hemi
Duuuuude!!! I am so close! I got everything in except fan/clutch and shroud and upper radiator hose, and I need to bolt the passenger side exhaust to downpipe. I will be cranking her up this afternoon, come hell or high water. BTW, **** the engineer that put the o2 sensor in the way of the bolt head on the drivers side.
good deal yeah that is the normal with about all now gm is bad at it too have to remove the O2 to get the bolts glad you about got it
 
Top