Which Mopar cam?

[GASnBRASS]

I'm doing a rebuild of my 4.0 and need a new cam. Factory cams are no longer available but I'd like to stick with a wider cam lobe for durability. Mopar offers two cams P4529228 and P4529229 and I need to know which would give me a smooth idle but also good torque range up to 3500 rpm, with cruising rpms of 2500-3000 rpm.

Specs-------------------------------------------Stock 96-'04 / P4529228 / P4529229
Advertised Intake Duration------------------------- / 253 / 240 / 248
Advertised Exhaust Duration----------------------- / 259 / 240 / 248
Intake Duration @ .050" Lift -----------------------/ 188 / 199 / 202
Exhaust Duration @ .050" Lift ---------------------/ 190 / 199 / 202
Valve Lift (Intake) ----------------------------------/ 0.408 / 0.430 / 0.440
Valve Lift (Exhaust) --------------------------------/ 0.414 / 0.430 / 0.440
Intake Opens @ .050" Lifter Rise (BTDC) deg ----/ -16 / -8.5 / -7
Intake Closes @ .050" Lifter Rise (ABDC) deg ----/ 24 / 27.5 / 29
Exhaust Opens @ .050" Lifter Rise (BBDC) deg ---/ 20 / 27.5 / 29
Exhaust Closes @ .050" Lifter Rise (ATDC) deg ---/ -10 / -8.5 / -7
Advertised Intake Opens (BTDC) deg --------------/ 12.4 / 12 / 16
Advertised Intake Closes (ABDC) deg --------------/ 60.9 / 48 / 52
Advertised Exhaust Opens (BBDC) deg ------------/ 49.8 / 48 / 52
Advertised Exhaust Closes (ATDC) deg ----------- / 29.2 / 12 / 16
Valve Overlap deg (advertised) --------------------/ 41.6 / 24 / 32
Lobe Separation Angle deg ----------------------- / 107.5 / 108 / 108
Intake Centerline Angle deg -----------------------/ 110 / 108 / 108

[Cheromaniac]

The P4529229 will do fine.

[GASnBRASS]

So the idle will still be smooth and it will play well with the stock PCM? Trying to avoid expensive springs or driveability issues. The 32RH typically shifts at 3500-4000 rpms, so I don't care about top end power, but it's hard to find any feedback on how these cams will idle.

[Cheromaniac]

So the idle will still be smooth and it will play well with the stock PCM?

Yup.

[GASnBRASS]

Thanks for the response. Would the 28 be more suitable for prolonged low rpm crawling and smoothest idle, using a cloyes adjustable timing set to fine tune where the power band is?

[Cheromaniac]

I think the 28 would be far too biased towards low rev torque in a stroker and have little to give above 4k rpm.

[GASnBRASS]

This is going into a stock 4.0 rebuild, not a stroker. I'm just asking here because all I get is silence on any other forum, they're too busy arguing about tire sizes and soft top brands. Actual cam feedback has been hard to find.

[Cheromaniac]

This is going into a stock 4.0 rebuild, not a stroker.

If you're not bothered about having the engine nose over above 4000rpm, get the 28 cam and enjoy a buttload of low rev torque.

[IH 392]

Stock OBDII cams are available from Melling, I got mine at O'Rielys.

[GASnBRASS]

Does the melling cam have 2/3" wide lobes like stock or are they 1/2" like most aftermarket cams? And do you know where they are made?

[IH 392]

The Melling cam does have the wide lobes, I'm not sure who ground them?, but they have limited ID on them like an OE cam has.

[GASnBRASS]

Thanks for the feedback about these cams. My TJ has the 32RH with 33's and 4.10 gears, but I may end up using it in the future for light towing (atv's and such), so I think I'll try the Mopar 28 cam for the low end torque. If it doesn't suit the motor or my driving habits I guess I'll tear the head off and swap in the Melling cam.