Another RAM 5.7 HEMI top overhaul completed in-house. If you’ve been following our workshop posts you’ll know these come through the door fairly regularly, and this one got the full treatment: new camshaft and lifters, new oil pump, new MDS solenoids and a long list of supporting parts to make sure it stays fixed.
What came in
The 5.7 HEMI is a strong engine, but it has one well known weak point: the camshaft and lifters. The roller lifters can stop rolling, the needle bearings let go, and once that happens the lifter starts machining the cam lobe. Owners usually hear it before anything else goes wrong.
Typical signs we see on a 5.7 that’s heading for this job:
- A ticking or tapping noise from the top of the engine, often worse when warm
- Misfire codes on one or two cylinders, usually with a check engine light
- Rough idle and a loss of power
- Metal in the oil or on the filter when it’s cut open
- MDS (cylinder deactivation) behaving oddly or throwing codes
What we did
A top overhaul on a HEMI isn’t a quick job. Both cylinder heads come off, the front of the engine comes apart and the camshaft comes out through the front of the block. From there the work list on this one looked like this:
- New camshaft and a full set of new lifters
- New oil pump – low oil pressure at the lifters is a big contributor to failures, so we don’t reuse the old one
- New MDS solenoids, so the cylinder deactivation system is working the way it should
- Cylinder heads checked and reconditioned before going back on with new gaskets
- New timing components, seals and gaskets as required
- Fresh oil and filter, then the engine run up and checked over before it goes back to the customer
The photo shows the engine on the stand with the heads refitted and the rocker gear going back on. It’s a big job, but doing it properly the first time means the truck isn’t back in six months with the same noise.
Why it matters
Plenty of workshops will quote a cam and lifter swap on its own. The problem is that whatever caused the first failure – oil supply, a tired oil pump, MDS lifters sticking – is still there if you don’t address it. Replacing the oil pump and MDS solenoids at the same time costs a little more up front and saves a lot later.
If your HEMI has a tick, don’t drive it and hope. The longer it runs, the more metal goes through the engine and the bigger the bill gets. Caught early, it’s a top overhaul. Left too long, it can mean a bottom end.
HEMI work done in-house in Perth
We do these jobs in our own workshop in Welshpool, not sent out to a third party. We work on RAM 1500s, 2500s and the rest of the American truck and muscle car range every week, and we’ve got the parts access and the scan tools to diagnose it properly before anything comes apart.
Got a 5.7 HEMI that’s ticking, misfiring or just doesn’t sound right? Give us a call on (08) 9258 6409 or drop in to Unit 5/51 Division Street, Welshpool. Based in Welshpool – servicing Perth.
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We’re not your average mechanic. Our team has extensive experience working with American-made vehicles – from RAM 1500s and Ford F-Series to Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras. Whether factory-delivered or privately imported, we understand the unique requirements of these utes and trucks and have the tooling, knowledge, and parts network to service them properly.
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