My cam lifter job! Pictures

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.

DILLIGAF

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 28, 2016
Posts
4,741
Reaction score
9,054
Location
Canada
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
Ouch, thats a whole lot of extra work . :eek: You dont need to do all of that to pull the oil pump. ;)

Im glad your young, You wont be doing all that when you're over 40... lol...
 
OP
OP
F

fadetoblack188

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Posts
410
Reaction score
299
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi
Ouch, thats a whole lot of extra work . :eek: You dont need to do all of that to pull the oil pump. ;)

Im glad your young, You wont be doing all that when you're over 40... lol...
I am aware. But I also had to pull the oil pan to change it that was weeping like crazy On 4wd the diff had to be dropped and motor lifted. On my back in a driveway in 30 degrees. Pulling the motor just allowed me to work on everything like a “ gentleman “ haha all at once in a heated garage. It really wasn’t all that bad
 

Hardracer

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2017
Posts
525
Reaction score
568
Location
Swfl
Ram Year
2010 1500 laramie 4x4 crew cab
Engine
Hemi 5.7
mechanical experience is not crazy. in my early 20's i did some 1/4 racing with a mustang. Small block ford more straight forward then this, less parts. I did not build that motor on my own but with help from a friend who was older then me. I learned a lot watching my friends at the time. I have never actually paid anybody to fix any of my cars, I have always tackled everything my self. radiators, breaks, leaks, suspension, diagnosing, the usual stuff. I never worked as a mechanic or have any certifications.

I would say this has been the largest job I have done. yes

I did not look at the cam bible thread. I will def check it out though.

I dont think pulling the motor was horrible. I think I made the right choice especially with having to replace the leaking oil pan. Here in New York its cold around 30. Laying on my back and bent of the fenders in the cold and wind didn't sound fun. I figured I could get the motor out in a day and a half and get it in the heated garage, take my time and work on it in a t shirt. i only have a half garage which can be seen in the pictures. some good music playing and just taking my time.

Also i noticed some guys do the job without removing the oil pump. Me personally I am not gambling on that chain not accidently jumping a tooth on the crank gear behind the oil pump. for some reason i just didn't trust the zip tie trick and keeping tension on it. i am not saying its wrong I just dont like it. I personally wanted to see the marks on the crank gear and on a chain. Knowing the motor was a top dead center there was no guessing it's straight forward. I also felt if I was going in there and pulling that cover I wanted to replace what i could. Tensioner, guide, chain, oil pump, water pump etc.

The wiring harness can be intimidating, all the connections and spaghetti but a deep breath and one thing at a time you get through it. It all falls into place reassembling.

If I had to do it again that's a tricky question. 2wd car I would say leave it in in the truck. better access to lower the pan and pull the pick up and the oil pump and check that timing. I know there is a trick to drop the pick up with leaving the pan on as well. I would say if you don't need to worry about changing the oil pan and its warm out haha do it in the car. But i 100 percent do not regret my decision i think for my case it was def the right move. I do think that though it is very convenient working on the motor on a stand as opposed to over the fenders. so I am on the fence with that answer.

I didn't mean to go off on a rant but figured I would respond as best I could.

Your response sounded fine to me..not rant at all.
Well done on the job and documentation I say...thank you for it all...dont usually(me anyways)see this kind of on hand type stuff..I enjoyed it all.
 

Jeepwalker

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2017
Posts
3,828
Reaction score
4,460
Location
WI
Ram Year
2012 Reg Cab, 4x4
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I probably would have considered doing the same thing in his situation.

#1 He's in NY as he pointed out. And ya can't always predict the weather. What if it parts were back-ordered and in the meantime it snowed 4" and a polar vortex parks over NY. Temps dropped to the teens for who knows how long..and the potential of blowing snow or blowing dirt/dust around with the oil pan off. How do you seal that part up? No fun doing a job like that in the winter outdoors. I've done similar. The 'safe' bet is to take yer time and do it right in relative comfort ..if ya can.

#2, he can be more thorough on a stand, as he pointed out. There's a good chance he could have run into more shavings that need to be flushed out or required greater disassembly (??). Or found some other unforseen problem. OR... a guy can really look it over in totality, and decide weather it makes sense to throw in new bearings, take things a step further, or re-ring it(??). And then do so taking time to do every step right ..and not have to worry about crap blowing into the block sitting outside.

#3, Torque rating figures are designed for room temp range...not 25F, lol.

.
 
Last edited:

Dodge 1500 4X4

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2019
Posts
2,797
Reaction score
2,705
Location
Rochester, NY
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I am aware. But I also had to pull the oil pan to change it that was weeping like crazy On 4wd the diff had to be dropped and motor lifted. On my back in a driveway in 30 degrees. Pulling the motor just allowed me to work on everything like a “ gentleman “ haha all at once in a heated garage. It really wasn’t all that bad
Great job W all the pics and documentation, in my mind I could do what you did, but father time takes its toll the older we become, hindsight it's a whole lot easier removing the engine to be more thorough on the rebuild process.
I also live in NYS blink your eyes and the weather changes!!!
 
OP
OP
F

fadetoblack188

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Posts
410
Reaction score
299
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi
I probably would have considered doing the same thing in his situation.

#1 He's in NY as he pointed out. And ya can't always predict the weather. What if it parts were back-ordered and in the meantime it snowed 4" and a polar vortex parks over NY. Temps dropped to the teens for who knows how long..and the potential of blowing snow or blowing dirt/dust around with the oil pan off. How do you seal that part up? No fun doing a job like that in the winter outdoors. I've done similar. The 'safe' bet is to take yer time and do it right in relative comfort ..if ya can.

#2, he can be more thorough on a stand, as he pointed out. There's a good chance he could have run into more shavings that need to be flushed out or required greater disassembly (??). Or found some other unforseen problem. OR... a guy can really look it over in totality, and decide weather it makes sense to throw in new bearings, take things a step further, or re-ring it(??). And then do so taking time to do every step right ..and not have to worry about crap blowing into the block sitting outside.

#3, Torque rating figures are designed for room temp range...not 25F, lol.

.
it did snow 6 inches while i was doing it... woke up to it feb 13th.. i am sure i have a picture let me check. haha
 

Wild one

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
16,884
Reaction score
32,474
Ram Year
14 Sport
Engine
5.7
it did snow 6 inches while i was doing it... woke up to it feb 13th.. i am sure i have a picture let me check. haha
Damn you could of kept it down there,lol.Last couple of days we're getting close to 8 inches of the white ****, :rolleyes: :Big Laugh:
 

Frisk

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2016
Posts
90
Reaction score
81
Location
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 5.7
From your pictures I can determine 2 things.....You made the right diagnostic call on that lifter, its wasted. And you like to fish!!!! Good job on the repair.
 

Marshall

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2013
Posts
1,443
Reaction score
1,383
Location
Sk, Canada
Ram Year
2014 sport
Engine
5.7 hemi
Great Job, I never think of pictures till it's too late, I have not did one of these , but I always had lifts, winches and stands, Hate working upside down over fenders.
Weather, the other day we dropped 18 deg in 6 hours , it is -20C today n, blizzard is stopped, yesterday 1/2 the highways in Sask. where closed/ blocked.

I was wondering about the cam as well. Mine is a 14 as well, but miles are low yet .
 
Last edited:

Fuelie

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2021
Posts
19
Reaction score
19
Location
Minnesota
Ram Year
2023
Engine
EcoDiesel
Excellent documentation. I am 68 and wouldn't hesitate to tackle a job like this, I have rebuilt a lot of engines in my time. I currently own a EcoDiesel and wouldn't hesitate to tear it down if needed when the time comes.
Tom
 

dordoc2506

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2023
Posts
8
Reaction score
8
Location
Calgary, AB Canada
Ram Year
2020
Engine
6.4 Hemi
I have a 2020 3500 with the 6.4 hemi which had this issue last year, I updated the Oil pump to the one from the 6.2 Hell Cat Hemi, higher Oil Pressure at an idle, runs 40 psi at Idle, and 65psi at 2000 rpm. Cost is minimal from Dealers compared to stock Oil Pump.
 

dordoc2506

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2023
Posts
8
Reaction score
8
Location
Calgary, AB Canada
Ram Year
2020
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Low Miles and Driving Hours, High Idle Hours, now I know what to look for, too many hours at an Idle causes most of the Cam and Lifter Failures.
 

DILLIGAF

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 28, 2016
Posts
4,741
Reaction score
9,054
Location
Canada
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
40 psi at idle is still to low IMHO, I like 50 and just bumping the idle to 750 - 800 rpm gets it there.
 

Jeepwalker

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2017
Posts
3,828
Reaction score
4,460
Location
WI
Ram Year
2012 Reg Cab, 4x4
Engine
5.7 Hemi
40 psi at idle is still to low IMHO, I like 50 and just bumping the idle to 750 - 800 rpm gets it there.

Me too. OTOH, 40 is just fine. I've got a vehicle which has had low oil pressure...for IDK how many yrs.. Still lives on, runs fine.


Below: Oil Pressure at Hot idle/Hot day/In gear/Foot on brake. Not a Ram. Don't worry, it goes up to 26-27 while driving. :D

Oil Pressure 0-30_small.jpg
 
Top