Dave E

What is the max cam lift and duration I can run on a stock Magnum 5.9l?

PK1

When you say can? Am I correct in assuming you want to leave the heads alone? With stock springs the 5.9L truck cam is max. The springs suck. Even with the truck cam, which is the 300HP Crate motor cam, the OE springs will float around 5000 rpm.

The 380HP Magnum crate had 230/236 .501. The low lift was due to the retainer to guide clearance. .512 to .520 is the upper level of lift and I always check the clearance!!! The machining was not very consistent.

Dave E

You are correct sir. Due to some exceptionally bad news from the guy building my donor magnum motor I am now having to do cam and quite possibly heads. I am trying to juggle cost, performance, and the fact that its just an off-road beater to begin with. So annoyed at finding out my magnum heads are cracked multiple places and my cam is almost worn out. I just wanted to renew internals and drop it in!

Dave E

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/pts/4002248035.html
Can I use 5.2 magnum heads ?

PK1

A worn out roller cam? Wow..

I have a couple 5.9L truck OE cams in the garage ( maybe even a Comp one or two around here also) and I know I have some drop in Hughes 1110 springs... PM me if interested. Im building a 408 and used a 1998 2500 entire engine as a donor so the parts, rods, cranks, cam etc... need to go.

TVLynn

Are you quite sure it is a Magnum motor and Not an LA... Roller cams should last 3-400 K miles
318/360 magnum heads are the same

Dave E

I pulled the motor from the '98 281k mile 3/4 ton truck myself. I am as sure as I can get it's a magnum. Apparently (according to my buddy building it) the individual I bought it from ran it quite hot and most likely with little to no oil for some time. Then that good soul buttoned it up with a new radiator and sold me the truck as a good running vehicle in need of maybe a TPS or possibly a clogged cat converter. Turned out the cat was clogged, I replaced the exhaust and drove the truck a couple hundred miles to make sure the motor was solid. Seemed to run ok just smoked a bit (which I attributed to the high mileage, worn rings, valve guides etc...) Once my buddy tore into the motor he found very unusual wear patterns on the lobes of the cam, multiple cracks in both heads, blown head gaskets over both rear cylinders and the list goes on. Got a hell of deal on the truck but apparently the major parts I wanted to be able to salvage from the motor are shot... so disappointing.

Dave E

Depending on what I end up needing I may get in touch with you. I am still kind of shocked and perturbed at how the whole thing is turning out. May scrap the whole project (budget blown already with just motor stuff). The guy I have doing the motor has lots of mopar bits and pieces laying around as well. We may be able to scrounge up enough stuff to get it decently back together.

TVLynn

No engine will survive with no oil...

Dave E

Still looking into which route to take now... The guy that has my motor was basically cutting me a great deal on swapping short blocks. He had a low mileage magnum motor that had no top end and he was going to put my top end and accessories onto his motor charge me less than it costs for a complete bearing/ring rebuild kit. Now I am looking at having to buy a complete top end to finish the project. Looking online I can find complete head sets for anywhere from 500-1500 depending on how "built" they are but I can find complete lower mileage 5.9 Magnum's in the same price range. I imagine I will suck it up, find the money, buy some heads and a cam, and finish the motor out... just have to wait longer on buying the rest of the items needed to actually swap it in.

Rambuild

engine parts Hi I'm just getting back into building a Dodge and I purchased a 2000 ram drove it for a couple weeks and through a rod so am in need of a good crank plus read about Hughes cam and springs online and saw your post that you have parts I would be so so great full if you can help me out hat to ask but I'm off work on workers comp so money is very tight Any help would be awesome Steve

BrianW

Want to know if a 488 / 488 Lift cam without have to go thru the valve train

Rango5.9

do you still have the comp cam and drop in springs?

Iowan

you quoted a four year old post…