A camshaft swap is the single biggest naturally aspirated wake-up call you can give a 5.7 HEMI, and the right cam kit is what turns a soft, MDS-numbed Eagle motor into something that pulls hard and finally sounds like a real V8. The trouble is that the HEMI world is full of grinds with very different goals, from mild tow-friendly bumps to lopey street monsters, and a wrong choice means either no gain or an engine that drives terribly at idle and in traffic.
We looked at the cam kits that real 5.7 HEMI owners actually buy and run in Ram 1500s, Chargers, Challengers, Durangos and 300Cs. We weighed power delivery, the included valvetrain hardware, whether the kit handles MDS and VVT correctly, and how livable each grind is on a daily driver. Here are the seven that earn their spot, ranked best first.
| Photo | Product | Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
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Comp Cams 201-HR HEMI Stage 2 NSR Camshaft Kit Best Overall Hydraulic roller, no-spring-required (NSR) lobe profile, MDS and VVT compatible |
9.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Mopar Performance HEMI Camshaft Kit Best OEM-Backed Choice Factory-engineered HEMI grind with OEM-grade hardware and tolerances |
9.2 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Texas Speed & Performance HEMI 5.7 Cleetus Cam Kit Best for Sound Aggressive street grind with matched spring kit, tuned for a strong idle lope |
9.1 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Brian Tooley Racing (BTR) HEMI Stage 2 Camshaft Kit Best Balanced Performance Stage 2 hydraulic roller grind with BTR spring and hardware package |
9.0 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Trick Flow TrackMax HEMI Hydraulic Roller Camshaft Best for Street Torque TrackMax hydraulic roller grind tuned for low and mid range torque |
8.8 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Howards Cams HEMI Hydraulic Roller Camshaft Best Lobe Selection Hydraulic roller HEMI cam offered in multiple grind specs |
8.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Lunati Voodoo HEMI Hydraulic Roller Camshaft Best Aggressive Street Grind Voodoo-series hydraulic roller grind built for aggressive street use |
8.2 | 🛒 Check Price |
1. Comp Cams 201-HR HEMI Stage 2 NSR Camshaft Kit: Best Overall
The Comp Cams Stage 2 NSR is the cam most experienced HEMI builders reach for first, and for good reason. The no-spring-required profile means the lobe was ground to stay safe on stock or lightly upgraded valve springs, which removes one of the scariest and most expensive parts of a HEMI cam swap for a first timer. You still get a real power bump across the mid range, a meaner exhaust note, and a curve that does not fall apart down low, so your Ram or Charger still drives like a vehicle you can live with every day.
The honest weakness is that this is not a plug and play part. The HEMI brain absolutely needs a tune to manage the new lobe, MDS behavior and VVT timing, and skipping that step will leave the engine running rough and underwhelming. Budget for tuning before you budget for the cam. Treat it as a system and the Stage 2 NSR rewards you with the best all around result on this list.
- No-spring-required grind runs safely on factory or upgraded springs
- Strong, broad torque curve aimed squarely at the 5.7 Eagle motor
- Designed to work with MDS deletes and VVT setups when tuned
Pros: Excellent street manners with a noticeable but not unbearable idle; NSR design lowers the parts and labor needed to install safely; Proven Comp Cams support and huge tuner familiarity
Cons: Needs a proper tune to unlock the full curve; Aggressive enough that very mild builds may prefer a smaller grind
2. Mopar Performance HEMI Camshaft Kit: Best OEM-Backed Choice
If you want a cam upgrade without stepping outside the Mopar family, the Mopar Performance HEMI cam kit is the safe, sensible answer. Because it is engineered in house for the platform, the tolerances, materials and fit are exactly what you expect from a factory part, which gives nervous first time builders real confidence. It is the natural pick for an owner who wants a freshened, slightly improved valvetrain and a modest performance gain rather than a wild street build.
The trade off is character. This grind is intentionally tame, so the gains and the sound are more refined than dramatic. Buyers chasing a big lope or chart topping mid range numbers will find it conservative. But for a clean, dependable, OEM-backed refresh of a high mileage 5.7, it is hard to argue with the engineering pedigree, and it still benefits from a supporting tune.
- Engineered by Mopar specifically for the HEMI platform
- OEM-grade material quality and consistent machining
- Pairs cleanly with factory replacement valvetrain parts
Pros: Reassuring factory engineering and fitment confidence; Conservative grind keeps drivability close to stock; Easy to source matching genuine Mopar components
Cons: Milder gains than aggressive aftermarket grinds; Less of the lopey idle sound some buyers want
3. Texas Speed & Performance HEMI 5.7 Cleetus Cam Kit: Best for Sound
If the whole point of your cam swap is to make the 5.7 HEMI sound angry, the Texas Speed kit is built for exactly that. The grind was selected to produce a real, head turning lope at idle, and because it ships as a matched package with the correct springs and hardware, you are not guessing at part compatibility. On the road the payoff is a strong upper mid range and an exhaust note that finally matches the HEMI badge.
That attitude comes at a livability price. The same lope that sounds incredible in a parking lot can feel busy and rough in stop and go traffic, and the spring install means more labor than a no-spring-required cam. If your truck or car is a weekend toy or a build where sound is the priority, this is a fantastic pick. As a pure daily driver, weigh how much rough idle you can tolerate first.
- Comes as a matched kit with springs and hardware
- Grind chosen for a pronounced, aggressive idle character
- Strong upper mid range pull on the 5.7 platform
Pros: Delivers the lopey muscle car idle people chase; Sold as a complete matched package, less guesswork; Backed by a shop with deep HEMI and LS knowledge
Cons: Idle quality can feel rough for a daily commuter; Spring install adds labor versus a no-spring grind
4. Brian Tooley Racing (BTR) HEMI Stage 2 Camshaft Kit: Best Balanced Performance
Brian Tooley Racing built its reputation on cam design, and the HEMI Stage 2 kit shows why. The lobe is ground to give a meaningful power gain and an unmistakable cam sound while keeping the curve broad enough that the car still feels good around town. Selling it as a complete kit with matched springs and hardware means the supporting parts are correct out of the box, which is a real advantage for a builder who does not want to spec components individually.
As with every serious HEMI grind here, the catch is that it is not a bolt on win. The engine needs a calibrated tune to take advantage of the new profile, manage MDS and keep VVT happy, and the Stage 2 idle has enough attitude that ultra smooth daily drivers might prefer a milder grind. For an owner who wants a properly balanced street build from a respected name, BTR is an easy recommendation.
- Well-regarded BTR lobe design for the HEMI
- Includes matched valve springs and install hardware
- Tuned for a usable powerband on street driven cars
Pros: Excellent balance of power, sound and drivability; Trusted name with strong tuner support; Complete kit reduces sourcing headaches
Cons: Requires a tune to perform as intended; Stage 2 idle is noticeable for daily use
5. Trick Flow TrackMax HEMI Hydraulic Roller Camshaft: Best for Street Torque
The Trick Flow TrackMax takes a different angle than the lope chasers on this list. Its grind is shaped to build strong low and mid range torque, which is exactly what a heavier 5.7 vehicle like a Ram 1500 or Durango actually uses in everyday driving and light towing. That torque first philosophy makes the truck feel genuinely stronger off the line and in passing situations without turning the cabin into a vibrating mess at every stoplight.
Because it is tuned for usable grunt rather than peak headline numbers, you should not expect the wild idle or the big top end pull of a more aggressive street cam. Buyers who want maximum noise and maximum dyno bragging rights will look elsewhere. But for an owner who values a tractable, hard pulling daily that still benefits from a proper tune, the TrackMax is a very sensible HEMI cams you can run.
- Profile emphasizes useful low end and mid range torque
- Hydraulic roller design suited to the HEMI valvetrain
- Good match for towing and heavier vehicles like trucks
Pros: Strong, tractable torque that suits daily and tow duty; Smoother manners than the most aggressive grinds; Reputable Trick Flow engineering
Cons: Less dramatic idle sound than lope-focused cams; Top end gains are more modest
6. Howards Cams HEMI Hydraulic Roller Camshaft: Best Lobe Selection
Howards Cams is a great option for the builder who already knows what they want and wants to spec it precisely. Rather than locking you into one stage, Howards offers the HEMI cam in a range of grinds, so you can dial the duration and lift toward torque, toward top end, or toward a specific idle character. For a planned build where you are choosing springs, pushrods and a tune deliberately, that flexibility is genuinely valuable.
The flip side is that this flexibility assumes some knowledge. The cam is frequently sold as a bare core rather than a turnkey kit, so you, your shop or your tuner need to confirm the supporting valvetrain parts and pick the correct grind for your goals. A first timer may find that daunting compared to a matched package. For an informed builder, though, the lobe selection is the whole appeal.
- Available in a range of grinds for different build goals
- Quality hydraulic roller core for the HEMI platform
- Flexible choice for custom-spec street builds
Pros: Wide selection lets you match the cam to your goal; Solid manufacturing reputation; Works well in a planned, component-matched build
Cons: Often sold as a bare cam, not a full kit; Choosing the right grind takes some homework
7. Lunati Voodoo HEMI Hydraulic Roller Camshaft: Best Aggressive Street Grind
The Lunati Voodoo line earned its name in the muscle car world for grinds with real character, and the HEMI version carries that same aggressive personality. If your goal is a build that sounds and feels like a hot rod, the Voodoo delivers attitude, a strong pull up top, and the kind of presence that makes the 5.7 feel transformed. It is a satisfying choice for a project car where excitement matters more than refinement.
That excitement is also the warning. Pick a grind that is too large for your combination and the drivability drops off quickly, with a rough idle and a peaky curve that fights you in normal driving. The Voodoo also typically wants matching springs and a committed tune to behave. Match the grind to your actual goals and supporting parts and it shines, but it is the least forgiving cam here for a casual daily driver.
- Voodoo lobe family known for aggressive street character
- Hydraulic roller design matched to the HEMI
- Strong mid to upper range power focus
Pros: Big attitude and a genuinely aggressive personality; Established Voodoo reputation among muscle builders; Good upper range pull when tuned
Cons: Drivability suffers if the grind is too big for the build; Usually needs matching springs and a serious tune
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a tune after installing a cam kit on my 5.7 HEMI?
Yes, and this is not optional if you want the cam to work properly. The HEMI’s computer has to be recalibrated to manage the new lobe profile, fuel and timing, plus MDS and VVT behavior. Without a tune the engine will typically idle rough, throw codes and feel worse than stock, which fools people into thinking they bought a bad cam. Always plan and budget for a quality tune as part of the install, ideally lining up your tuner before the cam even goes in.
What is MDS and should I delete it when I cam my HEMI?
MDS, or Multi Displacement System, is the factory cylinder deactivation that shuts off four cylinders to save fuel. Many aggressive cam grinds are designed to run with MDS deleted because the lopey idle and bigger lobe do not play nicely with cylinder deactivation. Most performance cam kits and tunes handle the MDS delete for you, and the better kits are sold specifically as MDS compatible or MDS delete oriented. Confirm how your chosen cam treats MDS so the tuner can set it up correctly.
Will a cam kit give my 5.7 HEMI that lopey idle sound?
It can, but it depends entirely on the grind you choose. Larger duration and overlap create that classic lopey muscle car idle, while milder torque oriented grinds stay much smoother. If sound is your main goal, look at the more aggressive street grinds like the Texas Speed or Lunati Voodoo options. If you want gains without much idle change, an OEM-backed or torque focused grind such as the Mopar or Trick Flow choice is a better fit. There is a real trade between lope and daily smoothness.
Do I need new valve springs to install a HEMI cam?
Often yes, but not always. More aggressive cams need upgraded springs to control the valvetrain safely at the higher lift, which is why many of the best kits ship with matched springs. A no-spring-required grind, like the Comp Cams NSR, is specifically designed to run safely on factory or lightly upgraded springs, which saves labor and reduces the cost and risk for a first time builder. Always confirm the spring requirement for your exact cam rather than assuming the stockers are fine.
How much horsepower does a cam add to a 5.7 HEMI?
Gains vary with the grind, the rest of your build and the quality of your tune, so it is impossible to promise one number honestly. A cam works best as part of a package with good exhaust, intake and a proper calibration, and the result is usually a strong, broad improvement in mid range power along with a much better sound rather than just one peak figure. Focus on choosing a grind matched to your goals and supporting it with the right hardware and tune, and the power will follow.
Our Verdict
For most 5.7 HEMI owners, the Comp Cams Stage 2 NSR is the smartest choice and our top pick, because its no-spring-required design lowers the install risk while still delivering a strong, broad powerband and a real cam sound once it is tuned. Our runner up is the Mopar Performance HEMI cam kit, the OEM-backed pick for anyone who wants factory engineering and dependable, refined gains without stepping outside the Mopar family. Whichever you choose, treat the cam, the supporting valvetrain and the tune as one system, and your HEMI will reward you.
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