Hey guys and gals, I know this is a subject that has been touched on before but maybe not the way I'm thinking. I Have a 2002 Dakota with the 4.7 that I picked up cheap. Needed an engine. Replaced it with a very low mileage unit from a 2005 and yes it was a bi*** to replace the tone ring but for the price and mileage it was worth it. Now I'm going to be keeping this thing as a daily driver and maybe do a straight axle swap next spring but I'm looking ahead at the need for more horse power. I know that the 4.7 HO cams can swap right in but after doing a little goggling I noticed that the 2010-11 rams had even more power available. My question is simple. Can the cams from those trucks be used in stead of the HO cams that can't be found readily and is there any advantage? I know the newer Rams had a bit of other changes in the engine but not sure what they truly are. Anyone got some input?

 

Maybe the heads are different? I'm sure the cams will swap, heads probably would too.

 

For starters, it has dual plugs per cylinder and the compression ratio went to 9.8:1.

 

Going off of what DakDan said. There are significant differences from the new and old 4.7s

Changes I know of:
Compression ratio, more spark plugs (touch on by DakDan)
Heads have improved flow
Intake manifold is drastically different
Exhaust system is supposedly less restrictive and quieter (still doesn't beat aftermarket)
Fuel management and timing calibration done for the improved engine efficiency

The blocks are still the same but the engine as a whole is much more modern for 2008 and newer.

The newer camshaft are not H/O; the reason for the H/O cam discontinuation was that the cam produced more power at the cost of more emissions. New emissions regulations went into effect in the second half of the 2007 model year. These were across all vehicles, that is why diesel engines we're redesigned and/or had DEF systems added. The power improvements you're looking at right now are mostly computer programming and computer-aided design modifications to improve airflow.

 

Ok, I knew about the dual plug thing but that's not a cam thing but the ignition. I really want to know about what the HO cam numbers are for lift and duration and then compare that with the newer cam numbers. Just for instance... The HO cams for whatever vehicles around 05'-08' as opposed to the Non HO cams from say 09'-13'. Knowing theses numbers and then seeing if the cams would actually swap into the earlier Non HO heads might give me an option for more power with out the cost of reworking the entire engine. Plus I'm still not aware of an aftermarket cam set for these engines. I may just leave enough alone but as most guys, I like extra power for towing and play times.

 

H/O cam specs:
Duration advertised: 236*/250*
Valve lift I/E: 0.472"/0.429"
Valve overlap: 18*
LSA: 112.5*, ICA: 115*, ECA: 110*
IVO: 3*BTDC (seat to seat)
IVC: 53*ABDC
EVO: 55*BBDC
EVC: 15*ATDC

I hope that is what you wanted

 

do the 02 4.7s use the same mounts as the 06-08s? i know you said its the same block but part numbers arent matching up for the motor mounts im using a 02 durango into a 06 ram, My plan is to strip the 02 donor engine and do a full rebuild using ram parts, but becoming concerned it wont bolt up

 

Ram's and Durango/Daks are two different frames. I'd assume that with that, the mounts have different dimensions for how they attach to the frame. Ram's are wider than the Durango/Dak. That might be why the mounts have different part numbers.