I know this topic has been exhausted, on this site, but I have a new question related to it. I am adding a Comp cam to my wish list. First question: Should I go with the titanium retainers and new pushrods, too, or is that overkill? Second question: If I go with the Comp 112-502-11, it says that I need to flash the ECU. Who/how can this be done? Is it a pain in the ars? If so, do you recommend the Comp 112-501-11? It requires no ECU modification.

 

Depends on what you want to do. The 268 (common name for part #112-501-11) is a much more "streetable" cam than the 273 (#112-502-11). The 273 starts to shine at the track. Also keep in mind that there is always a give and take with cams. The better the high end HP gains, the more low end torque you lose and vice versa. That's why so many people are pulling their 6.1 cams in favor of the 260, torque losses are not worth the relatively small HP gains. It's imperative to balance the two. IMO the 273 would be out if your truck is a daily driver. I'm thinking instead of looking at the 268 or 273, you're gonna want to decide between the 260 & 268. Besides the ECU flash could cost as much as double what you'd pay for the cam!
I have a very heavy 4x4 and as such would only consider the 260. Very good low end torque cam with only a slight (if any) top end loss. However, I believe I'm going to do a KRC-210, it's a low end torque beast.
You outta' do a search, or better yet a poll, to see who's running what. I know a lot of guys are running 260's and are very happy with it.

Regardless of which cam you choose, I'd get the exhaust springs, retainers and you don't really need them, but they are cheap, so I'd do pushrods too. You could save money here and go to your local Mopar man and get the Hemi 6.1 setup of all three. The retainers are steel, but stronger than stock.
A lot of people are using the 6.1 springs, retainer & rod combination with 3rd party cams with very good results. Titainium retainers would be nice, but unless your intention is of building a truck for the track, would not be required. I'd put the money I saved by not getting the titanium retainers toward an ATI Damper, which could save you from major headaches and expense down the road after a cam swap.

 

Thank you, Hammer. A very thorough explanation, with many suggestions. I like that.

 

Just an FYI, but as far as I know, there is still nobody out there that has successfully tuned a 273 in a Ram. A couple people have tried, even with custom B&G tunes, to no avail.

 

KRC Performance reports you'll have no problem running a 273 cam!!!
and I quote:

"2002 Ram with a 408 stroker. KRC put a KRC 242/248 108lsa cam in it just to see if they can get the SCT software to tame it. The fuel trims are almost perfect. It drives around really good. Not as much tq as the 210 cam obviously. They had to change when the tq converter locked up as well. Here are the sound results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFQ1sQ6s2EM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id593EBOcN0

Now those of you wanting a 273 cam aren't gonna have to think twice about tuning!!!!!!!!!! Good things coming."

 

thats how i want mine to sound

 

Sweet, ain't it?
As soon as they got a solid release of the SCT Tuner for the '04 Hemi, I'm on a KRC210 cam with a custom 4* advance grind, and their tune!!!!!!
I won't have to get a piggyback or live with a constant misfire CEL if I wait for their tune, but I'm going nuts waiting...
I may not have the CTD I've always wanted, but my low end torque will feel like it!!! I also can't wait to hear the lope, with my CAI, LT's & Exhaust!!!

 

thats goin to be sweet hammer,about how much?

 

umm wow lol...i want one lol

 

What KRCrecommended was Cam w/custom grind, titanium retainers, pushrods, beehive springs, ATI Damper, SCT Tuner with custom tunes loaded on the tuner. I have a choice of 3 tunes & the types of tunes are limitless. You could do a 91 Perf., a 93 Perf., a Tow Perf, a Tow Economy, a Max Gas Mileage, etc.)
Cost for everything with labor & dyno time is gonna be around $2500.
Now if I choose I can cut a couple bucks off by changing the specs slightly and picking up a couple of Mopar components myself. Titanium Retainers is all KRC uses, but the steel 6.1 Retainers are strong enough for that cam. Same with the 6.1 Mopar Springs & Pushrods. That could cut about $300 off the final tally. Again, of course, if I choose to go the SCT route, I'm gonna have to wait for the Tuner for the '04 Hemi to be ready as well as tunes, then to get better performance and get rid of the CELS, I will have to Dyno and wait again for the custom tunes. Keep in mind, I could do this cam now, if I chose the piggyback route which will work fine in concert with my Superchips. The standard 210 would give a random CEL, the +4 grind would be basically continuous. CAI and Headers are not imperative but strongly recommended (which I already have).
The really nice thing is that I live less than 5 miles from KRC, which is really cool. Every time I stop by to bend Marty's ear or just drive by, that lot is full of trucks (Hemi's, 4.7's, Dak's, Jeep's, etc.) from all over the country.