I bought a set of cast replacement heads, camshaft, lifters, and airgap intake for my 2001 Ram 2500 with a 5.9 from Hughes engines. I had the engine professionally rebuilt and replaced everything, including O2 sensors, and PCM. I also had the injector timing set by the dealer. Problem is, it has way less power than the original engine with 225k on it. It struggles to reach 75 mph on the highway. I've called and spoke with Dave Hughes and he offered no help. he says its a problem on my end.. Any ideas??

 

What cam did you get?

 

Its called the "steamroller" cam. 114 degrees lobe separation. Its supposed to work well with a stock computer. I've sank a lot of money in this engine to not have as much power as a stock engine with 225k. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks

 

I forgot to mention that I checked compression just to make sure, and it reads 180 give or take a pound or two on every cylinder. We also changed fuel filter, converter, and mufflers. I'm at the end of my rope.. I'm thinking I may have gotten a bad grind on the Hughes cam or a bad air gap intake.

 

Very little to go wrong with the intake.....

Was the hughes cam a regrind? If it was, did you take that into account on assembly? (may need longer pushrods to get full motion at the valves.)

And then we have this:
What ratio rockers are you running? Did you also get the correct springs for the cam?

 

1.6 rockers and my engine guy measured the push rods. I ordered everything to go together. The guy at Hughes told me that the cam I ordered didn't need a computer or throttle body upgrade. I even spoke with Dave Hughes and he confirmed what the other guy said. I still don't understand how, but they are supposed to be the experts..

 

And that's why it says "Requires a computer upgrade" right on the page for the cam???? Something is a bit off there. Might want to have a chat with Hemifever, (he does tunes for these trucks) and see what he has to say. I would trust him more than the guys at hughes.... they don't have the best reputation.... but, they are one of the very few places that actually cater to the magnum engines still.

 

I just cant understand how the engine is supposed to be getting more air and fuel with the upgrades, but they don't recommend a computer or throttle body upgrade. On the scanner going down the road it reads good, but has zero power.

 

I agree. If the numbers look right, that engine should run fairly well..... Lots o' lift on that cam with 1.6 rockers. I would be money though, that a custom tune would definitely help. (yeah, another 500 bucks or so.)

 

You must be looking at a different cam. Part # SER0814ALN-14. It says works well with stock computer. It also says " works well with stock heads and throttle body upgrade" , but Dave says it will be a waste of money.