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Let’s Talk: Lifters & Valvetrain Failure

Then this video drops and maybe I won’t be doing a Hamilton conversion so quickly….

flan,
I am just now seeing this video.
You are right---sounds like a person may need to purposely "drag their feet" on doing the Hamilton kit...
Plus--I did not realize this was an issue with Powesmoke and Duramax also....
I sure hope Cummins/Ram completes their "investigation" very soon in order to come up with a real/fair fix for all 2019+ trucks that need the repair.
I say that because apparently NOT ALL 2019+ trucks are affected...
 
It still makes sense to me to do it as far as preventive maintenance, the evidence has been out there the valve train in these trucks are less than robust.
The massive amount of labor and cost of the kit is I’m sure what puts it on most owners back burner. Anyone sees a Black Friday sale on the kit post it up!
 
It still makes sense to me to do it as far as preventive maintenance, the evidence has been out there the valve train in these trucks are less than robust.
The massive amount of labor and cost of the kit is I’m sure what puts it on most owners back burner. Anyone sees a Black Friday sale on the kit post it up!
Hamilton has been working to refine / streamline the kit to make it more affordable in terms of the component cost. Still going to be labor intensive for the install though. It can be done without lifting the cab, but lifting the cab is by far the preferred method. Especially considering there’s a potential for complications like stuck cam bearings.
 
I was starting to stress about this perceived valve train issue requiring all new tappets etc. and wondering if going to Ram might have been a mistake. I feel better after watching the video
Ditto
 
flan,
I am just now seeing this video.
You are right---sounds like a person may need to purposely "drag their feet" on doing the Hamilton kit...
Plus--I did not realize this was an issue with Powesmoke and Duramax also....
I sure hope Cummins/Ram completes their "investigation" very soon in order to come up with a real/fair fix for all 2019+ trucks that need the repair.
I say that because apparently NOT ALL 2019+ trucks are affected...
Although they didn’t rectify the source of the “tick”, it’s a good thing they did the cam and lifter swap on this engine. The cam lobe with partial wear contact at the peak of the ramp, as well as the lifter above it, were destined for premature failure. That level of partial wear on the lobe is indicative of a lifter / roller assembly that was not running parallel to the cam. Would be caused by either a poorly machined roller axle bore in the lifter body, and / or a roller that was not uniform in its bore. Either one (or both) would create a scenario where all of the force applied between the roller lifter and cam contact patch was being applied to one side of the roller rather than across the whole width.

It was going to fail anyway. Just lucky they did it early enough that no significant damage was caused to the cam or the block. The few initial chip-outs on the anti rotation machining in the block’s lifter bore is another context clue. That only occurs if the lifter is being rotated axially at force, beyond its allowed degree of movement.
 
Hamilton has been working to refine / streamline the kit to make it more affordable in terms of the component cost. Still going to be labor intensive for the install though. It can be done without lifting the cab, but lifting the cab is by far the preferred method. Especially considering there’s a potential for complications like stuck cam bearings.
I had not heard about that refinement, where did you hear about that? I’d be curious to see what it takes to make something like that more affordable. I did see wagler will be releasing their own solid tappet kit in the coming months.

A lot of this info would be better served ending up in a actual lifter thread for search purposes later on, maybe clean it up if you can find time!
 
lol, ouch. Sucks for them. Good find.
For anyone who didn’t have time to watch the whole thing they diagnosed the truck, felt very strongly through diagnosis the noise was valve train, disassembled the truck found evidence to support their diagnosis, put it back together to have it start making the noise again…
 
Its communist California, so like EVERYTHING in communist California, its way more than anywhere else... and not as good. Pay more, get less..... the democrat way.
I figured as much. Although I was born there and spent my toddler years there, I have had absolutely no desire to step foot in that state due to my personal “convictions”. Same reason I never stop when passing through Illinois. I refuse to spend my money in commie states. Minnesota same. Too bad, beautiful scenery, but I don’t travel where my constitutional rights are not respected. I still see the need in the cam/lifter change due to the metal and wear they found. Those flagged lifters are asking for trouble.
 
So around $4k in labor. Certainly not cheap, but with all things considered, much better than a new truck…..or a whole new engine. Then there is the option of a 4th gen swap. Still sucks that we even have to look out for all this crap.
 
Hamilton has been working to refine / streamline the kit to make it more affordable in terms of the component cost. Still going to be labor intensive for the install though. It can be done without lifting the cab, but lifting the cab is by far the preferred method. Especially considering there’s a potential for complications like stuck cam bearings.
do you know if Hamilton is working on a kit for the 2025+ trucks? i see Wagler has a flat tappet conversion kit out/coming out soon, but I wonder if they will have a kit for the 2025+ trucks as well. i think Manton is making some of the components for the Wagler kit.
 
do you know if Hamilton is working on a kit for the 2025+ trucks? i see Wagler has a flat tappet conversion kit out/coming out soon, but I wonder if they will have a kit for the 2025+ trucks as well. i think Manton is making some of the components for the Wagler kit.
I do not know if any of them are working on a 2025+ kit. However, I would assume that this would be the case given that the valvetrain remains largely unchanged and they’re in the business of selling parts. They’ll need to keep up to be competitive.
 
I do not know if any of them are working on a 2025+ kit. However, I would assume that this would be the case given that the valvetrain remains largely unchanged and they’re in the business of selling parts. They’ll need to keep up to be competitive.
Hamilton and DNR Customs are working on a kit for the 2025+ trucks. It will be mor expensive due to the new rocker arms.

On a separate note, I have been trying to order a pushrod for the 2025+ trucks so that I can send to Manton for them to make some custom ones. Apparently, this part is restricted by Mopar and a Star case has to been opened etc in order for dealers to order. This explains why every dealer I have tried to order the part from has cancelled my order. There is one (1) dealer in the entire nation that has two (2) in stock. They seem hesitant/not willing to sell me one. Great! Wonder if this means they are in fact re-designing the entire top end of the valvetrain?
 
I've done the Hamilton swap 2x :confused: Expect around roughly 30 hours of labor with all the little odd and ends like, fluids, gaskets, etc..etc.. The cab has to be lifted or engine pulled for this job to be done....both of my trucks, the rear main seal always had to be replaced due to leaks...go figure...And depending how many miles are on your truck..some things should be replaced as preventative maintenance while you're in there..best time to do it...I always updated the valve springs and bridges and got rid of that plastic heater hose nipple...and its the best time for a coolant bypass...ALL of that stuff adds up in the end.
 
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