First Start after Cam Swap. Help pls!

mtofell · Sep 18, 2022

I've seen threads on here with people advising pulling the front of the truck up on ramps to elevate the radiator opening to help get the air out.

DILLIGAF · Sep 18, 2022

Putting your truck on Ramps to fill a Rad, Ive now heard it all... lol...

CunningStunt · Sep 18, 2022

RamRod37 said:
Also you may know this but just in case this would cause your issue. Always fill a radiator first with engine cold then with cap still off start engine you will now be able add more coolant but wait do not cap it off yet you still have the block to fill let it get to operating temp just before t-stat opens sometime you will start to loose a little coolant out radiator cap but still wait once t-stat opens the coolant will pretty much disappear now you can fill it some more. It's not going to hurt anything at this point let it continue to run that will keep working air out you will more than likely have to add a couple more times once it can sit and run for 5min or so and not drop level now you may cap it off and check for pressure leaks.

Sooo...this solved the issue!!!! It was still a gal+ low, so I changed tstat, took cap off, cranked and added fluid over a few tstat cycles till it didn't take anymore and now coolant temp is cycling between 196 to 204. Drover her about 30 miles and all temps/pressures and noises are SAT. Holy frick! Thank everyone, especially RamRod37!!!

Now, it is not lost on me that I need to put some miles on her before clearing her for daily duty, but this a moment to celebrate!!! God bless y'all!

Lessons Learned thread will follow soon...

RamRod37 · Sep 18, 2022

CunningStunt said:
Sooo...this solved the issue!!!! It was still a gal+ low, so I changed tstat, took cap off, cranked and added fluid over a few tstat cycles till it didn't take anymore and now coolant temp is cycling between 196 to 204. Drover her about 30 miles and all temps/pressures and noises are SAT. Holy frick! Thank everyone, especially RamRod37!!!

Now, it is not lost on me that I need to put some miles on her before clearing her for daily duty, but this a moment to celebrate!!! God bless y'all!

Lessons Learned thread will follow soon...

I knew that truck was going to have to give up and work for you at some point glad you got her going good luck with it

CunningStunt · Sep 18, 2022

RamRod37 said:
I knew that truck was going to have to give up and work for you at some point glad you got her going good luck with it

I was one week away from loading the bed of her with a pallet of beer and towing it up your way to finish it!

RamRod37 · Sep 18, 2022

LOL I would have too the beer would stay though LOL

CunningStunt said:
I was one week away from loading the bed of her with a pallet of beer and towing it up your way to finish it!

mtofell · Sep 19, 2022

DILLIGAF said:
Putting your truck on Ramps to fill a Rad, Ive now heard it all... lol...

Air rises and water sinks. So, getting the opening up higher helps air find it's way out.

Burn2k12Ram · Sep 19, 2022

CunningStunt said:
Sooo...this solved the issue!!!! It was still a gal+ low, so I changed tstat, took cap off, cranked and added fluid over a few tstat cycles till it didn't take anymore and now coolant temp is cycling between 196 to 204. Drover her about 30 miles and all temps/pressures and noises are SAT. Holy frick! Thank everyone, especially RamRod37!!!

Now, it is not lost on me that I need to put some miles on her before clearing her for daily duty, but this a moment to celebrate!!! God bless y'all!

Lessons Learned thread will follow soon...

Outfreaking standing man. :driver:

RamRod37 · Sep 19, 2022

DILLIGAF said:
Putting your truck on Ramps to fill a Rad, Ive now heard it all... lol...

there is truth to that though some vehicles now the rad cap is at same height as block or lower there has been several vehicle's we have had to elevate front end some way to get cap back to higher point than the block to get air out other wise They just air locked so yeah ramps, hills, rack in just the front end it all works the same

DILLIGAF · Sep 19, 2022

In 30y of wrenching Ive never seen it done. I guess Ive never owned a car or worked on one that required such a thing... lol...

EdGs · Sep 20, 2022

@CunningStunt, I am very glad you got her sorted out. I would be all kinds of freaked out having to go through this. Wishing you many smooth miles.

mtofell · Sep 20, 2022

EdGs said:
@CunningStunt, I am very glad you got her sorted out. I would be all kinds of freaked out having to go through this. Wishing you many smooth miles.

Yep, this X2 - I was reading along and sending good vibes and wishes. Glad you got it all done. You're a brave man tackling these new beasts. I did a ton of work on cars 20/30 years ago when I was much younger and they have passed me by. It's off the dealer now when things go sideways (but at least I have a warranty

)

CunningStunt · Sep 21, 2022

mtofell said:
Yep, this X2 - I was reading along and sending good vibes and wishes. Glad you got it all done. You're a brave man tackling these new beasts. I did a ton of work on cars 20/30 years ago when I was much younger and they have passed me by. It's off the dealer now when things go sideways (but at least I have a warranty )

Thank you both!

I still have a small oil leak, I think from the oil pan since I used a pry bar to get to the pickup tube bolt. I am taking her in for new tires this morning and will ask them to see where its leaking from while its on the lift.

I am also getting a slight 10ish rpm stutter when at any cruising speeds that stutters about every 2-3 seconds. I plan on replacing the PCV valve first then maybe all new injectors when I have the cash. The engine sounds perfect. I kinda love the noise that comes from the valve train while idling, its oddly satisfying that light clickety clackadoodle doo

Sillygoose · Sep 21, 2022

Sillygoose said:
it's rigid and bolted in place again elsewhere

make sure you loosen the pan bolts enough to drop it down to get the clearance you need, don't loosen just the front bolts and try to bend it down, you'll never get it to seal back up... ask me how i know

ahem... lol

CunningStunt · Sep 21, 2022

Sillygoose said:
ahem... lol

I listened all the bolts I had access to was like 10 bolts I could access.

CunningStunt · Sep 21, 2022

Sillygoose said:
ahem... lol

Tire guy showed me it looks like front main seal...I replaced that tho...wonder if I didn't put harmonic balancer all the way on? Would that cause it to leak?

DILLIGAF · Sep 21, 2022

When I did my cam-swap, I installed the front main seal on the cover before installing it. ( Fel-Pro ) And it leaked after 2 days... lol..

When I pulled it off you could see the edge got folded over. I have no clue on how that happened as my whole entire front end was removed and I put in on perfectly straight. **** happens man.

So I got an OEM made a little tool and swapped them out.

Are you sure you put it on the right way. Because some ******* on YouTube has a video showing how to install it backwards... lol...

Front Crankshaft Seal Installer

Well my front Crank Seal is leaking, So that was a good excuse to make a new tool :cool:. I sure as **** wasnt paying 100$ for the MOPAR one... Wife caught me using her Circuit for the stencil and got yelled at :boxing: ... lol... Will make a brass guide for the bolt tommorow on the lathe.

www.ramforum.com

turkeybird56 · Sep 21, 2022

DILLIGAF said:
Putting your truck on Ramps to fill a Rad, Ive now heard it all... lol...

Could they have been Ford owners? LOL.

CunningStunt · Sep 21, 2022

DILLIGAF said:
When I did my cam-swap, I installed the front main seal on the cover before installing it. ( Fel-Pro ) And it leaked after 2 days... lol..

When I pulled it off you could see the edge got folded over. I have no clue on how that happened as my whole entire front end was removed and I put in on perfectly straight. **** happens man.

So I got an OEM made a little tool and swapped them out.

Are you sure you put it on the right way. Because some ******* on YouTube has a video showing how to install it backwards... lol...

Front Crankshaft Seal Installer

Well my front Crank Seal is leaking, So that was a good excuse to make a new tool :cool:. I sure as **** wasnt paying 100$ for the MOPAR one... Wife caught me using her Circuit for the stencil and got yelled at :boxing: ... lol... Will make a brass guide for the bolt tommorow on the lathe.

www.ramforum.com

I put it in the timing cover the same way it came out and used a bearing pressing socket that matched the diameter of the seal ring and hammered it in lol, but all well. I will just keep close eye on oil until I get time to take off timing cover again. It's always somethin'! Lol

DILLIGAF said:
When I did my cam-swap, I installed the front main seal on the cover before installing it. ( Fel-Pro ) And it leaked after 2 days... lol..

When I pulled it off you could see the edge got folded over. I have no clue on how that happened as my whole entire front end was removed and I put in on perfectly straight. **** happens man.

So I got an OEM made a little tool and swapped them out.

Are you sure you put it on the right way. Because some ******* on YouTube has a video showing how to install it backwards... lol...

Front Crankshaft Seal Installer

Well my front Crank Seal is leaking, So that was a good excuse to make a new tool :cool:. I sure as **** wasnt paying 100$ for the MOPAR one... Wife caught me using her Circuit for the stencil and got yelled at :boxing: ... lol... Will make a brass guide for the bolt tommorow on the lathe.

www.ramforum.com

I didnt see any way to install them other than to hammer that ***** into timing cover using a big socket that was same diameter. Is there a different way?

EdGs · Sep 21, 2022

DILLIGAF said:
When I did my cam-swap, I installed the front main seal on the cover before installing it. ( Fel-Pro ) And it leaked after 2 days... lol..

When I pulled it off you could see the edge got folded over. I have no clue on how that happened as my whole entire front end was removed and I put in on perfectly straight. **** happens man.

So I got an OEM made a little tool and swapped them out.

Are you sure you put it on the right way. Because some ******* on YouTube has a video showing how to install it backwards... lol...

Front Crankshaft Seal Installer

Well my front Crank Seal is leaking, So that was a good excuse to make a new tool :cool:. I sure as **** wasnt paying 100$ for the MOPAR one... Wife caught me using her Circuit for the stencil and got yelled at :boxing: ... lol... Will make a brass guide for the bolt tommorow on the lathe.

www.ramforum.com

@DILLIGAF, That tool is awesome! Necessity is the mother of invention.

Funny about the Youtuber installing one backwards, lol.

How pricey was the OE seal? Probably well worth the extra $ to know that it is to spec.

Hang in there, @CunningStunt. Homestretch.

First Start after Cam Swap. Help pls!

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