5.7L with a bad cam

Found a salvage yard telling me they have a 5.7l core 2011 I think. They indicate the engine has a bad cam and will need new cam and cam bearings. What might have gone wrong. Any danger in picking this thing up and replacing the cam and bearings and using it. What might I be getting into?

Did they actually inspect the cam? I have lifters go bad on ones I've used, but never saw a bad cam.

I have torn a few apart with bad cams lately and the bottom ends and stuff look new, even the two that had 300K miles.

The 392 cam is cheaper (I paid $68 from the dealer on the last one VS $177 for the 5.7 cam) and since the vave springs break anyhow on the 5.7 it would be a good idea to upgrade to the 392 springs. You get a way better cam for next to nothing when upgrading this way. Make sure to order the 392 automatic cam if you need MDS and 392 manual trans if you do not want MDS.

Honestly I think the cam goes bad because a roller quits rolling and starts sliding so replace the bad lifter and check all the others to make sure they roll real nice and smooth or if the cost is no concern get all 16 lifters new.

How does the stock 5.7 tune do with a 6.4 cam? I've heard that a tune isn't necessary but really wakes them up if you get one. Noticeable power increase with a 6.4 cam?

"Honestly I think the cam goes bad because a roller quits rolling and starts sliding"

The 2015 6.4 I picked up last week suffered from this, the roller on Intake No4 was stuck , wiped the cam lobe.


"How does the stock 5.7 tune do with a 6.4 cam? I've heard that a tune isn't necessary but really wakes them up if you get one. Noticeable power increase with a 6.4 cam?"


Wondering that myself.

I've read it's a 50hp increase with a good custom tune in a 5.7. It sounds like HotRodDave has some first hand experience with 392 came in 5.7's so I was just wondering what his experience is and whether he got a tune

Which 6.4 did you get? An SRT or Big Gas Truck?

Truck,66k mile engine . Im thinking of putting the short block in my truck and put the 2014 5.7 heads and intake on it, not looking to change the"stock5.7" look of my truck but figure it's a good way to and some inches.

This is my example of a bad 5.7 cam...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co_SJjfyBI8

A seized cambearing got hold of a cam-journal and ripped it loose from the cam's splined shaft.