2009 1500, 5.7 with 205k. Truck runs strong, responsive, smooth, has what I believe to be a lifter tick until it gets warm. Seems more of a subtle chirp. Once oil temp is 190, can't really hear anything, or at least is significantly quieter.

For those having gone through a cam lifter swap:
- would you do anything proactive in terms of replacing cam and lifters or let it run its course
- what lifters aren't absolute junk, I'd use a stock replacement cam from Mopar if I do anything
- anything I can do once it starts chirping/ticking or is it what it is

I would park it now. Its only going to get worst . sending metal throughout the system

I just went thru this very scenario last fall.
Im in mine for tad over $3200 end to end
I went with Melling cam and OEM mopar lifters , retained the MDS system

Hopefully you've been running a quality oil filter.
Deep down I think thats what saved mine

Out of curiosity, is that $3200 only parts?
How much time/labor involved?

Are you sure its not an exhaust manifold leak? Pretty common and they generally go away when warm. A bad cam or lifter roller usually does not go away when warm.

Neighbor has this issue I think. Ticks like mad upon cold startup, and when they come back later after the engine is hot everything sounds normal. Look at all the exhaust manifold bolts, and see what they look like.

https://youtu.be/mu1f6md0-KI?si=LMPZlyY_x9EmP4O2

Approx yes. Be to be honest. I replaced pieces I maybe didn't need to
But, while I was there . I didnt want to shortcut it

I did
Cam,
lifters. ( OEM only btw )
MDS solenoids ( I broke one during removal so replaced them all )
Timing chain set
Oil pump
oil pickup tube
Valve springs ( my truck has 160k miles on it )
Valve seals

I didn't set out to spend that much. And had I known I was going to . I would have just bought a reman long block

Yeah, it's a case where the sum of the parts are 3-4x the whole.
I bought a 5.7 crate motor, oil pan to exhaust, and included the clutch, which can run $800 alone.
All for $5700 delivered

I'm not entirely sure it's not exhaust related....which would be an obvious win in this regard. Needs an inspection and will have it on the lift for a closer look.

This is what I was wondering and thinking. All the ones I've been around that have an abnormal tick do not go away with warm up.

Usually a valvetrain failure is pretty constant, and temperature doesn’t make very much difference.

If the exhaust manifolds haven’t been done yet, they will probably need to be done.
Usually a Quick Look will reveal a missing exhaust manifold bolt, usually near the back of the engine.
The manifolds warp and the bolts break off in the head.

The pain in the butt in the picture is a 2500.
1500s are easier to do this repair on, and don’t have that huge shock tower in the way.

This is really only a truck issue….The car exhaust manifolds never seem to have this failure, but on those the bottom studs gradually rust away instead.

Pulled passenger fender well liner off and removed the heat shield to review the bolts unobstructed. All in place no discernable leaks. Going to dig into driver side once the brake parts show up.

As Zippy illustrated very well, the right side is usually the culprit when you have a temperature related tick. Start the truck cold, have someone standing by wheel opening, put truck in gear, and load engine a little. that should verify it. I have done a couple dozen of these fixes, 95% of them are on the passenger side, and usually a bolt in the rear has failed.. Most dealers will replace the manifold, as well as the bolts. I don't agree with this procedure, as the new manifold is not heat cycled, and will usually warp and repeat the failure. I have not had any of my repairs come back by simply truing up the original manifold and re-using it. Have been using Fel-Pro gaskets, which are sold in sets, so if anyone needs drivers side gaskets, I have a bunch of them. Jim

If you plan on replacing the cam and lifter's, I would also install a real Hellcat oil pump not one for the 6.2 engine and install the bypass spring out of your 5.7 pump. Thai will supply a lot more oil and low rpm which seems to be a major part of the lifters failing.