I found the HEMI Problem and a Solution!

Summary

The presenter investigates camshaft and lifter wear reported in 2009-and-newer HEMI engines. He says failed lifter-roller needle bearings can damage the camshaft, causing ticking and misfires, and may require extensive engine disassembly to repair.

Main Technical Claim

The presenter proposes that the issue may stem from a small difference in oiling between earlier and later HEMI designs. Using an endoscope and camshafts from 2003–2008 and 2009-and-newer engines, he compares oil access to the lifter area when the cam is at maximum lift.

He argues that the earlier setup leaves a small gap for oil to reach the lifter, while the later setup does not. He says the camshaft bearing and journal dimensions are otherwise compatible, and demonstrates that installing an earlier camshaft in a later block restores the visible gap.

Test and Proposed Solution

• The presenter describes years of experiments aimed at directing more oil to the lifters, including work on a proposed lifter design.
• He says he made six modifications to a set of lifters for testing.
• On a bench tester running at 700 rpm to simulate hot idle, he compares lubrication under low-pressure conditions and uses ultraviolet light to show oil flow.
• He reports substantially more visible lubrication from the modified setup at 20 psi, with no measurable pressure drop in his test.
• He presents this as promising bench-test evidence, not as a completed vehicle trial. He says he still plans to test the modified lifters in a Jeep.

Plans and Qualifications

The presenter hopes to develop the modified parts for production and solicits support through a GoFundMe. He describes improved lubrication as a major step toward longer engine life, while acknowledging that it is not the only issue to address.

These claims are based on the presenter’s demonstrations and testing in the video. The subtitles provide no independent validation or long-term durability results.

Main speaker/source: Dave, host of Hemi Garage Hacks, also referred to in the subtitles as Hemi Crate Projects.