1st, I know this is an old thread but I just re-read all 10 pages and didn't see my questions asked or answered.
03 ram 5.7 with 4 cooked rod bearings, suspect a failed oil change to be at fault. I have an extremely low mileage 06 jeep long block to swap in the truck after an .030 overbore ( due to water sitting in the bores and pitting the cyl walls). I'm wanting to know if the 06 MDS cam will work fine in my 03 non MDS build. I already plugged the MDS with billit plugs and the truck was NON-MDS to begin with. I guess my question is, is the cam the same ? The 03 cam looks like it got hot with the rest of the 03 engine. I'm using all the accessories from the truck, just basically replacing the engine with the rebuilt 06 long block minus the MDS.

2nd. Should I swap to the 6.1 valve springs and pushrods while the engine is apart. Short block is assembled, putting the rest together today if possible.

PS. The intended use of this will be a daily driven 2500 4x4 with 4.10 gears, and pulling a boat or camper or race car around.

Thanks in advance.