First let me introduce my self as this is my first post. I have a 2003 dodge ram 5.7 hemi lowered on 22's Graphite Metallic in color. The last 2 weeks have been hell to my truck. First on 12/14 i get in a fender bender nothing major bent the bumper and cracked the grill. So I go to the body shop get an estimate they order the parts and i go on about my business.

Fast foward 1 week later body shop calls and tells me "ok your parts are here you can drop the truck off" I go out to start the truck turn the key then a loud BOOM!!! then nothing. Ok that was wierd mabye it just backfired idk so i start it agian and it is all over the RPM range trying to idle and just dumping raw fuel out of the exhaust. By this time i am ready to just push this truck that i have only had for 3 or so months off a freaking cliff. I do a little googling and run across Firemans Long thread as well as some othe Valve spring related threads and think to myself that pretty much sounds like my problem.

So here is where i am at i will compression test tonight to find out which cylinder is the likely culprit. I have already gotten my (16) 6.1L valve springs and will make something work in order to compress the springs.
My real Question is on the 6.1L pushrods 1.) do i "need" (i know it is cheap insurance) them if i am not changing cams. 2.) here is where the confusion from the searches comes in if i do "need" them do i need 8 intake and 8 Exhaust pushrods or 16 of the exhaust like the springs as i have read it both ways.

sorry for the long post but plaese chime in all help will be greatly appreciated.

and last but not least i know
so i will work on that.

 

I'd replace the pushrods for sure, I think the intake rods for the 6.1 vs. the 5.7 are different. I just put in new rods for a 5.7, they're actually cheap from the dealer I'd recommend putting them in

 

Sry to hear about the misfortune but here is what you need.

custom valve spring tool for changing cam/valve springs

As for new 6.1 springs. Get them from Henson Motorsports for about $65. The 6.1 push rods are about $11

Need? Not really. But if any are bent I would replace them all being they are cheap and you will be in the heads already anyway. Also, they come as 8/8 int/exh

 

yeah they are 8/8 and there is no way I'd go in that far and not do the pushrods.

Sadly there are way too many '03s and early '04s with spring failures. Dodge knew they were an issue or they would not have changed them in the mid '04 model year.

 

I got an 04. Is there anyway of telling if it's an early or late 2004model?

 

Thats exactly right Hammer.
Jsut as Dodge knew all aalong about the failing clutch pack clips in that POS they call an LSD.
They........ Dodge, are just prepared to go the "warranty" route and if you have no warranty.......TOUGH!

To the OP.....do as Weed has suggested.
I have already taken his advice and will be doing the 6.1 upgrade. early in the New year.
Also as already suggested, Hensons are an excellent company to buy your parts from.
I received Top class service from Art there.
I have no affiliation with this company, but I like to give positive coments wnever I can to a company who goes that extra mile.
Al

 

You can decode your VIN or get a build sheet but that still doesnt tell you what parts they put on the engine. If it were me i would spend the 75 bux for new springs and push rods. Im not trying to spook you into doing it but ask anyone who has been around for a while and they will gladly tell you about all the threads we've seen like this. Right now there is another 03 on DT that just dropped a valve and ruined his engine also.

http://tinyurl.com/2cndvkz

 

do you have any codes on vacuum leaks and stuff because i had a loud backfire sound come when i started my truck and it was my intake had blown up never had no problems with the valve springs. and then when i started the truck the truck kept banking off the rev limiter at 4g and then after a few seconds it would bog down to like 500 rpm or lower and keep giving a little rev up.

 

Thanks for the advice Denniss66 went and sprayed some carb clean around the intake and this is what i found. any idea where to get a new or used one and any idea what caused the backfire in the first place?

here are some pics of the carnage and the only pic of the truck on this computer.

And thanks to everyone for the input.

 

Nice find.

03 5.7 Intake Manifold P/N is 5101945AA and is about $158 new. I would look on ebay or some other scrap yards as well.