Need help on a cam

[rander]

Well, looks like I won't be getting Fri'd this year. I went with exterior mods instead. Anyways, since I'll be removing my front fascia to install the srt fascia next week, I thought the least I can do is install a camshaft. Now, I need to know which is the best cam for the 5.7 hemi's bang for the buck. Also, I need to know what hardware I will need and what I would expect in horsepower by simply swapping the cam. Is the 6.1 cam the best option or is there other cams out there that have tested better than the 6.1 cam. I know there is alot of info on this, but i'd like to hear from some of you guys that know or have changed out the cam only on the 5.7. I've got long tube headers, superchip and would like for it to work well with a 100 shot of nitrous. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Oh, one last thing. Will i have to remove the heads to install the cam? Thanks guys!

-rander

[mikespy]

I think bigdave installed the sidewinder only on his car and gained 33 or so Rearwheel ( don't quote me on that tho)... Do a search on sidewinder!!

[mikespy]

Heres the link to the dyno sheet!!
Bigdave's Sidewinder Dyno Sheets!!!!!

[lafrad]

Something that has been suggested, is to switch the Valve Springs out with something better.

That probably means you should remove the heads to install them.

That probably means you should do Heads too ;-)


You probably can get away with stock springs for a good power boost... but any valve float will totally kill your gains with N2O....

[Hurst Equipped]

the 6.1 cam would be the cheapest way to go. there are plenty of used ones out there nowadays. i don't know if it works with MDS. i still have a new 6.1 cam sitting around, but would reccommend the sidewinder cam instead.

[rander]

cool stuff. so is the sidewinder better than the cam being offered by hhp? looks like I would only need the srt exhaust springs and gains are 40+ hp. is the hhp cam around the same as the sidewinder? how comperable is the srt 6.1 cam to these? how involved is the swap in general. any good threads on the swap? I know, I know ther a lot of good threads out there, but i'd like to get specifics for what i'd like to do. cam, did you install the 6.1 cam at one point and happy with results? sorry guys, typing from a pda lol.

[FlyByU]

The Sidewinder has been shown time and time again to be the best cam for your car. You cant go wrong with it.

[Hemi31]

The stock SRT cam will make good power but it won't come in till over 3500 RPM.The Sidewinder makes more HP across the rpm band and monster torque as well.You will pick up between 30-40 rwhp from a cam only,but you will need valve springs no matter what cam you use.

[JonzMgnm]

Yeah...what /\ /\ he /\ /\ said!

[rander]

The HEMI god has spoken So how difficult is it to replace the valve springs on the 5.7? Is there a good write up out there on a cam install? Also, will that be the intake and exhaust springs that need to be replaced? Will the SRT valve springs do the job? I'll be ordering the stuff today or tomorrow, so a list of things i need will be very helpful when purchasing the cam. BTW, thanks guys for the input thus far.

Oh, last thing. I really don't care for MDS, so what do i need to do to get rid of it? Will it be expensive?

The stock SRT cam will make good power but it won't come in till over 3500 RPM.The Sidewinder makes more HP across the rpm band and monster torque as well.You will pick up between 30-40 rwhp from a cam only,but you will need valve springs no matter what cam you use.

[MangoInTX]

The springs towards the firewall can be a challange especially on the passanger side. You don't have to pull the heads to do what you want. I went w/comp behive springs. Both intake/exhaust should be replaced.

The spring replacement topic has been debated many times. Go ahead and swap them out just to be on the safe side, especially with the HP/Revs your engine is producing.

If you didnt' get a copy of my guide let me know, it list's everything you should need.

I believe there are different thoughts on disabling MDS. B&G tune and replacing lifters are the two that come to mind.

[mikespy]

The HEMI god has spoken So how difficult is it to replace the valve springs on the 5.7? Is there a good write up out there on a cam install? Also, will that be the intake and exhaust springs that need to be replaced? Will the SRT valve springs do the job? I'll be ordering the stuff today or tomorrow, so a list of things i need will be very helpful when purchasing the cam. BTW, thanks guys for the input thus far.

Oh, last thing. I really don't care for MDS, so what do i need to do to get rid of it? Will it be expensive?

Like Lafrad stated ... the job will be done easier with the heads off. Both intake and exaust springs should be replaced while your there and Srt springs will do the job but the choice is yours on the brand you wish to go with. On the Mds thing you will need to replace your mds lifters on the 5.7 with non-mds lifter if you wish to go that route and will need a B&G flash to disable the CPU side of engagement and you can kiss it goodbye. If i was you i would just keep the MDS and enjoy some increased gas mileage witht the cam.

[RTaddiction]

Does anyone expect a need to do any fuel/air re-mapping when doing a Sidewinder-only cam swap? Except for the Nitro, I've got similar mods to you Rander (LT headers, catback, SC 91 tune, CAI) and want the biggest power gain possible from a cam swap w/o having to do multiple dynos and air/fuel remapping and additional programming besides SC. I haven't seen anyone post air/fuel plots w/ similar mods after a Sidewinder-only cam swap. What's everyone's take on this?

[MangoInTX]

Here's a link to that PDF "guide"
http://home.tx.rr.com/rgd\ChargerWeb...CamInstall.pdf

I agree it would be much easier to pull the heads and have them on a workbench when installing springs but it isn’t mandatory. For that fact it would also be easier to install headers that way, but how many have done that?

The springs I went w/are ComCam Behive Springs #26918

Blue Point spring compressor part # YA3271 <= much needed if you don't pull the heads.

[Hemi31]

For springs the SRT exhaust springs work great.....use 16 of them.