I have a question how do the wooden dowels rods hold the roller's in place? i don't understand it. i am wanting to replace my cam but i want to understand every thing first. can someone help me out.

 

The lifters have a cupped shape to them on top it is about 1/2 in diameter, when you push the dowel pins into the cup shape on top of them, pressure from the dowel allows you to pull them up about an inch or so then you tie the dowel pins for each cylinders lifters together with rubber bands so they don't drop back into the lifter bore and obstruct the cam removal or replacement. As long as the dowels are seated well in the top of the lifters this works perfectly.

 

thank you i didnt unerstand it i am tryin to find the best cam for my 07 dodge. what are some good ones

 

doing a cam swap on one of these is a pretty big deal, nothing that can't be accomplished but I would definitely recommend doing alot of research on this site before tackling the project just so there are no surprises

 

That is a bad question, Ive seen guys start cam wars on whos
is the best. Go in search look for cam threads.

 

Good cam depends on a lot of things. Before looking at cam specs, decide what your ultimate goal is, mods done and planned, and use of the engine. You may find the stock cam to be the best choice for you.

 

X2. When I did mine, I had it at a shop on base where you pay to use the lift and tools and do your own work, it was supposed to only take 6 hours for the valve springs, and 12 hours for the cam, but considering work schedules, and after dropping a valve lock into an oil galley, breaking off a center punch in the #6 cylinder, trashing my front cover [harmonic balancer] seal, cutting, and welding the subframe, and having to figure out alot on my own, the bill for keeping the truck their was almost $150. I honestly don't think it was a difficult job, just very tedious for one set of hands, and expect it to take far longer than anticipated.

 

like bob said a lot depends on what you are trying to acomplish. i wanted to get rid of the in-cylinder egr for better mpg for that the pdr or colt was the best. i see the kids for high hp and rpm use the hamilton

 

keeping this thread on track, i was looking at doing this but the "Miller Tool Kit 8502" wooden dowels are $350 and i am just going to change my cam not go into business changing cams. Is there something other then the "wooden dowels" or something other then the miller kit?

Joe

 

no but the woden dowels were easy to make

 

Wow, I wasn't even aware you could get the dowels in a kit. I just bought some dowelling at the hardware store, 1/2" I think, cut them into lengths about 12 inches or so, and slotted one end of each. They have worked great on at least half a dozen trucks.

 

yep, 1/2" diameter dowel rod from Lowes, cut into 12" sections and beveled on the business end, jam it into the lifters, tap a couple of times with something heavy, pull them up, and rubber-band them together. Easiest part of the install. Just be sure they're in there snug, because if they fall, there is no tray like the old 5.9s that will catch them.

 

1st of all, thank you, I would have probably spent the money on the tools. (you can't have too many!)
I know this sounds stupid and i am sure i could figure it out once i got the engine apart, but could you post a pic of the beveled end?

Joe

 

What helped me figure it out, is if you pull the push rod out, and look at the end that goes in the lifter, that should give you an idea about how the dowel should look. No exact science.

 

Thanks

Joe