[One345]

Hi all, I first heard about this cam swap from the Challenger side ( 3x Charger owner here!)

There seems to be a lot of conflicting reviews about the 392 cam swap into the 5.7 and I just want to clarify of it's power gains.

Some claim 20-30whp NA with bolt on's but I also hear some have lost power, specifically with using the cam phase limiters in the earlier swaps but have since then discovered they weren't needed.

I been thinking about either this swap and have considered a custom grind cam w/MDS delete and phase limiters, though I scrapped the latter idea due to being over my cam budget. The 392 cam appeals to me because of the price and ease of install over the normal cam ( replacing the lifters with Non-MDS, Non-MDS lifter solenoid, head bolts, more expensive cam etc.)

I am very interested in your experience, both good and bad with the 392 cam swap. I don't expect a 50-60whp gain with a $65 cam but I do expect at least 20-25whp at the very least.

:Hey:

 

[friendoffur]

Honestly...The first thing I think when I read this is I hope this...guy???...lives close to a shop that is known for being able to tune the 5.7....but has I look up at the top right of your post I don't see what year car this is or where you live so I'll just give you my general opinion. I think your HP expectations are reasonable IF the tuning is right. Personally...I would throw a used set of SRT stock shortys and mids on at the same time to help the new flow. They are pretty cheep to buy but unless you can install them yourself expect to pay at least 500 bucks to have them put on. Really...the person I would trust and try to talk to {send him a PM} is WilliamsRT.

 

[One345]

Hi, I live in Alaska and we have one shop I heard tunes the 5.7/6.1 Hemi's but I run Johan (DiabloToona's) tunes so I think I will be set with one of his.

Nothing special going on. 2013 Dodge Charger RT AWD, was looking online for some power adders and stumbled upon the 392 cam swap into the 5.7's and ended up this site.

I also plan on doing long tubes and the 392 intake manifold along with the 392 cam to "hopefully" make 400AWHP but I understand if that's way too optimistic lol

I hear mixed reviews of the cam swap honestly.

I believe I may have chatted with William's RT, but didn't he sell his car? maybe I am confusing him with another member??

 

[williams rt]

Yes sold my black car. If you have not bought the cam already the 65.00 days are long gone, dodge caught on to people using them and raised the price. Not sure why you think this cam is easier to install? Same work no matter what type. But use the 392 manual cam, mine added 7hp with no tune change. The 392 intake will add nothing and you would have to buy a different wiring harness to use it, I would get a 6.1 intake. I would get mike from ost to tune it too, mike is getting good cam results that no other tuner is from his way of manipulating the cam.

 

[One345]

Yes sold my black car. If you have not bought the cam already the 65.00 days are long gone, dodge caught on to people using them and raised the price. Not sure why you think this cam is easier to install? Same work no matter what type. But use the 392 manual cam, mine added 7hp with no tune change. The 392 intake will add nothing and you would have to buy a different wiring harness to use it, I would get a 6.1 intake. I would get mike from ost to tune it too, mike is getting good cam results that no other tuner is from his way of manipulating the cam.

7 measly hp? lol.. I think I'll pass if that's the case.

I had planned on using the MDS 6.4 cam so I didn't have to swap the lifters, which involves removing the heads. I believe the MDS 392 cams are still $65 or so. And the Comp Cams require cam phasers, which may or may not add difficulty in the tuning process ( previous years, VCT limited cams were tough to tune rumor has it)

I heard the 392 intake manifold has proven it's merit in terms of adding torque?? That's what's going around anyways, up to 30 ft.lbs. of torque with the right bolt on's.

 

[cdahl383]

I've heard a lot of good/bad stories about this as well. Always wondered what the real deal was with this cam swap. Seems like the real issue is with tuning. Subscribed for additional info.

 

[williams rt]

7 measly hp? lol.. I think I'll pass if that's the case.

I had planned on using the MDS 6.4 cam so I didn't have to swap the lifters, which involves removing the heads. I believe the MDS 392 cams are still $65 or so. And the Comp Cams require cam phasers, which may or may not add difficulty in the tuning process ( previous years, VCT limited cams were tough to tune rumor has it)

I heard the 392 intake manifold has proven it's merit in terms of adding torque?? That's what's going around anyways, up to 30 ft.lbs. of torque with the right bolt on's.

That is non tuned hp, that is just adding the cam. With tuning they have shown quite a bit more depending on who the tuner is. The mds cams have shown no good results that I have seen. The 392 intake gives nothing you do not have the computer to use the active runners in it.

 

[One345]

sounds like it's kind of a hit or miss with the gains...

only a few people with the 392 cam in the Charger's that made decent power, but how much is the real question?

My only other plans are Long tubes/high flow cats and a cat-back. I figure that would open enough power for me and it'll sound fantastic.



If the 6.1 intake manifold is a better choice for hp over the 392 intake manifold, I might go that route as well. I figure with the AWD, the cam might even be worth it if RWD guys are averaging 20-30whp, which would equate to about 15-20 for me due to the greater drivetrain loss as well as the added 250lbs. of the AWD vs RWD.

 

[One345]

That is non tuned hp, that is just adding the cam. With tuning they have shown quite a bit more depending on who the tuner is. The mds cams have shown no good results that I have seen. The 392 intake gives nothing you do not have the computer to use the active runners in it.

The non-MDS cams do have a higher cam profile than the MDS version which would create better gains. I have chatted with a member that ran the MDS cam, but he was also supercharged. He gained 60whp but that's on a pretty well modded set up.

I read the active runners can be activated through a MSD rpm switch and wired through somewhere or another.. I forget lol

 

[williams rt]

The non-MDS cams do have a higher cam profile than the MDS version which would create better gains. I have chatted with a member that ran the MDS cam, but he was also supercharged. He gained 60whp but that's on a pretty well modded set up.

I read the active runners can be activated through a MSD rpm switch and wired through somewhere or another.. I forget lol

Have him produce a dyno sheet before and after the cam install showing that gain on cam alone, I doubt he can. Yeah good luck with all that to use a 6.4 intake lol

 

[One345]

Have him produce a dyno sheet before and after the cam install showing that gain on cam alone, I doubt he can. Yeah good luck with all that to use a 6.4 intake lol

I can try to find the link but he's already sold his car lol

?? I got the idea of the 392 intake manifold from the Challenger side..

:Hey:

 

[MarchAFB]

I did the 392 cam swap in mine, but since I have the 6spd I didn't have to worry about the phase limiters or MDS stuff. I had mine done at a reputable shop around me and he did his own tuning.

That being said, I had him dyno before and after, however I have a few caveats. My baseline dyno was 342 RWHP, but I had a CAI and catback exhaust at that point. When I had the 392 cam swap done (I got in on the $75 392 cam at the time before they got wise) I also had him install JBA shorties and do the custom dyno tune along with the Arrington springs kit and push rods. Now I am sitting at 386 RWHP. I don't remember off hand what my torque #'s were.

The main difference I see in drivability was that the 5.7 now pulls through the whole RPM range and doesn't "nose over" like it did before.

Was it worth it? At the time I had it done - yes. Maybe I will do a SC someday, but now I have a pretty good base for it.

Good luck.....

 

[One345]

I did the 392 cam swap in mine, but since I have the 6spd I didn't have to worry about the phase limiters or MDS stuff. I had mine done at a reputable shop around me and he did his own tuning.

That being said, I had him dyno before and after, however I have a few caveats. My baseline dyno was 342 RWHP, but I had a CAI and catback exhaust at that point. When I had the 392 cam swap done (I got in on the $75 392 cam at the time before they got wise) I also had him install JBA shorties and do the custom dyno tune along with the Arrington springs kit and push rods. Now I am sitting at 386 RWHP. I don't remember off hand what my torque #'s were.

The main difference I see in drivability was that the 5.7 now pulls through the whole RPM range and doesn't "nose over" like it did before.

Was it worth it? At the time I had it done - yes. Maybe I will do a SC someday, but now I have a pretty good base for it.

Good luck.....

Thanks for the feedback.

:4-wavey:


What RPM's are you shifting at?

I get what you mean about the 5.7 going flat at a certain point. I still have mine set at 6200 rpm's despite being an automatic, but I feel it does pull all the way up to redline and makes decent power over the 5875 stock redline. I was hoping to gain about 20whp from 3500 to 6200, maybe up to 50whp with long tubes/HF cats/cat-back exhaust.

I'd like to add that I am not unhappy at all with the power levels I have right now at all, as I have AWD a 3000 stall and custom TCM (6200 shift points) which totally transforms the launch ( punches right out the hold!) and it pulls all the way through 100mph with ease. I just want more power, as everyone else does.

:smiley_thumbs_up: