Cam swap articles got me second guessing
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Joined: May 2009
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Check this thread out first
How to do a cam swap on a HEMI
My questions are these:
1) What makes you want a 273?
2) How much are you expecting to spend total?
3) Who is going to do your cam swap?
4) Where are you located?
5) With a cam that big, you will have to be custom tuned. So what tuner will you use and who will you use and pay to do your tuned? Also consider dyno tuning v/s email tunes
6) What year is your truck because you have not mentioned it yet.
7) What Air/Fuel setup will you use for tuning?
8) With such a cam as desired, will you eventually open the intake and exhaust with headers or duals?
9) There are two ways to change the valve springs, heads on the block or heads off. heads off mean new head bolts/gaskets, heads on mean special tools.
10) How many miles are on your truck? Will you replace the timing chain and oil pump while you are there?
These are all things to think about now before you commit.
Cams that dont need custom tuning are not that costly. But the opposites get very costly
Cam - 400
6.1 springs/rods & crank/cam bolts - 100
tuner and custom tuning - 500+
head bolts/gaskets - 100
special tool for changing springs with heads on the block - 75
renting the damper puller - 75
oil, cam lube, coolant, ATF fluids - 100
timing chain/oil pump (if needed) - 100
Air/Fuel setup - 150+
Then there is the cost of finding someone to do it if you are not going to do it yourself. Again, these are all things to think about
How to do a cam swap on a HEMI
My questions are these:
1) What makes you want a 273?
2) How much are you expecting to spend total?
3) Who is going to do your cam swap?
4) Where are you located?
5) With a cam that big, you will have to be custom tuned. So what tuner will you use and who will you use and pay to do your tuned? Also consider dyno tuning v/s email tunes
6) What year is your truck because you have not mentioned it yet.
7) What Air/Fuel setup will you use for tuning?
8) With such a cam as desired, will you eventually open the intake and exhaust with headers or duals?
9) There are two ways to change the valve springs, heads on the block or heads off. heads off mean new head bolts/gaskets, heads on mean special tools.
10) How many miles are on your truck? Will you replace the timing chain and oil pump while you are there?
These are all things to think about now before you commit.
Cams that dont need custom tuning are not that costly. But the opposites get very costly
Cam - 400
6.1 springs/rods & crank/cam bolts - 100
tuner and custom tuning - 500+
head bolts/gaskets - 100
special tool for changing springs with heads on the block - 75
renting the damper puller - 75
oil, cam lube, coolant, ATF fluids - 100
timing chain/oil pump (if needed) - 100
Air/Fuel setup - 150+
Then there is the cost of finding someone to do it if you are not going to do it yourself. Again, these are all things to think about
2)I'm hoping to keep the cost down under $2000.
3)I will be doing all the work myself.
4)I'm located in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Canada.
5)I don't know anything about the tuning side of it. (sct???) There are no speed shops where I'm at so dyno is not gonna happen. I assume I can get a tune through e-mail from the tuner outfit, once I find one that can do what I require.
6)2004 is the year of the truck.
7)Air intake is just an Ebay special CAI. I didn't think anything needed done with the fuel side it.
8)Currently have dual cat back, will most likly do Longtubes after cam swap.
9)I will be doing it with head on. Ordered tool this morning.
10)Most likely wont change timeing chain or oil pump while I'm in there. I have 90,000 kms or 56,000 miles on the truck.
In your list you say a 6.1L crank also??
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,168
Likes: 23
From: South GA
1)From the advice from you fellas I'm gonna go with the 260, or a krc 210.
2)I'm hoping to keep the cost down under $2000.
3)I will be doing all the work myself.
4)I'm located in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Canada.
5)I don't know anything about the tuning side of it. (sct???) There are no speed shops where I'm at so dyno is not gonna happen. I assume I can get a tune through e-mail from the tuner outfit, once I find one that can do what I require.
6)2004 is the year of the truck.
7)Air intake is just an Ebay special CAI. I didn't think anything needed done with the fuel side it.
8)Currently have dual cat back, will most likly do Longtubes after cam swap.
9)I will be doing it with head on. Ordered tool this morning.
10)Most likely wont change timeing chain or oil pump while I'm in there. I have 90,000 kms or 56,000 miles on the truck.
In your list you say a 6.1L crank also??
2)I'm hoping to keep the cost down under $2000.
3)I will be doing all the work myself.
4)I'm located in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Canada.
5)I don't know anything about the tuning side of it. (sct???) There are no speed shops where I'm at so dyno is not gonna happen. I assume I can get a tune through e-mail from the tuner outfit, once I find one that can do what I require.
6)2004 is the year of the truck.
7)Air intake is just an Ebay special CAI. I didn't think anything needed done with the fuel side it.
8)Currently have dual cat back, will most likly do Longtubes after cam swap.
9)I will be doing it with head on. Ordered tool this morning.
10)Most likely wont change timeing chain or oil pump while I'm in there. I have 90,000 kms or 56,000 miles on the truck.
In your list you say a 6.1L crank also??
2) You can do it for less than 2k. As long as you have that kinda number to play with, you can get it done. There is a Tomahawk cam in the LX board right now for $225.
3) Good for you. Let us know if you need any help.
4) You are too far away for me to help in person. Sry.
5.) Since you have an 04, you can do SCT or DSP. Either one will work because with an 04, there is no TCM support either way. Email tunes are easy to get and install.
6) ive got an 04 also. So if I can do it, you can do it.
7) Aftermarket air intakes and better exh mean you get more air in and out faster and with less restrictions. You can do them now or later but they are good to do for obvious reasons.
8) LTs are super cool. With you being in CN I am sure you will want soem coated ones for rust protection.
9) Which tool did you order to do the springs? I just wanna make sure you got the good one.
10) At 56k I would worry about it either
I dont have a 6.1 crank but I do have 6.1 intake, ignition setup and half covers for my coils and such.
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
hey Af hemi i have read that the 03 is harder to tune an aggressive cam is it possible to get custom tuning out of the 03 or did you have to use a diablo tuner to tune yours i would like to do this mod as well just curious as to how the 03 is different from the 04 and up.
Grand Champion
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,041
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, Arizona
Just the basics, Im at almost 70k now and want to make sure everything is in good shape