OEM 2000 Dodge Ram 2500 Camshaft

2000 Dodge Ram 2500 Camshaft Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Remove and Install a Camshaft on 2000 Dodge Ram 2500?

  A: First, take off the radiator and the A/C Condenser if your vehicle has one; afterward, disconnect the engine cover, the intake manifold and the head covers. After that, uncover and remove the timing case cover, along with the timing chain and then take out the rocker arms, push rods and tappets, always keeping track of which part goes back where. Pull off the distributor, get out the oil pump and drive shaft and then remove the camshaft thrust plate, keeping track of where the oil tab is. Hammer in a long bolt through the front of the camshaft to help pull it and make sure not to break the cam bearings as you manage the cam lobes. While installing, oil the camshaft lobes and bearing journals, then insert the camshaft so that it's no more than 51 mm (2 inches) short of where it will be mounted permanently. To avoid pushing the camshaft in too deep, use tool C-3509, attach the tongue to the distributor drive gear at the back and hold it all together with the distributor lockplate bolt. Inside the engine, put the camshaft thrust plate and chain oil tab in place, pin point included, so the tang connects with the right hole in the thrust plate and tighten the bolts using 24 Nm (210 in. lbs.) torque. Set both the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets on the workbench so their timing marks are matched, then put the timing chain over both sprockets. Run the crankshaft while watching the camshaft, lift the sprockets and chain as they are pushed by the shafts and pull them back down once everything is centered, carefully sliding both of the sprockets evenly onto the shafts and seeing if the timing marks align by using a straightedge. Place the camshaft bolt and its cup washer and tighten the bolt firmly to 68 Nm (50 feet pounds). Test the camshaft end play and change the thrust plate if it is not specified in the manual. Replace every tappet back where it was and be sure to replace them all if a new camshaft is fitted. Following this, put in the distributor and distributor drive shaft, place the push rods, install the tappets and rocker arms, install the timing case cover, cylinder head covers, intake manifold, engine cover and the A/C Condenser, if equipped. After that, reattach the radiator, top off the coolant and power on the engine to inspect for leaks.