If you're driving a 2019+ 6.7L Cummins (aka 5th Gen), you need to pay attention to a growing issue that’s been wrecking engines way earlier than it should: camshaft and lifter failure. This isn’t a rare thing. We’ve had tons of customers come to us after finding metal in the oil or hearing a nasty tick that turns into a full engine teardown.
Let’s break down exactly what’s happening, why it’s happening, and the kit we recommend to either prevent it—or rebuild your engine the right way.
The Root Cause: Factory Hydraulic Lifters
The 5th Gen 6.7L came from the factory with hydraulic roller lifters designed for comfort and emissions—not long-term durability. Over time, these lifters can fail in multiple ways:
- Collapsing internally
- Seizing in the bore
- Roller coming apart or losing rotation
Once that lifter fails, it starts to destroy the camshaft lobe. That metal gets into the oil system, where it can clog the oil pickup, damage bearings, and even take out your turbo. The failure can start subtle—with just a ticking noise—and spiral fast into a full engine replacement.
Typical Failure Progression
| Stage | What Happens | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Lifter stops spinning or collapses | Ticking noise, uneven wear begins |
| Stage 2 | Cam lobe wears down or flattens | Metal enters oil system |
| Stage 3 | Contaminated oil circulates through motor | Damaged bearings, turbo, oil pump |
| Stage 4 | Valve train geometry fails | Catastrophic engine failure |
The Fix: Flat Tappet Cam Conversion Kit
This is the kit we carry to fix this issue once and for all. Whether your engine has already shown signs of failure or you just want to bulletproof it before anything goes wrong, the Hamilton Cams flat tappet conversion kit is the move.
What's Included:
- Custom-ground camshaft for 2019+ 6.7L Cummins
- Flat tappet lifters (solid, non-hydraulic)
- Hardened 3/8" pushrods (proper length matched to setup)
- Cam gear, key, installation lube, and all hardware
The camshaft included in this kit is designed specifically to work with the 5th Gen block and valve train layout. The lobe separation and duration are optimized to maintain low-end torque while eliminating the lifter issues that plague the stock setup.
Why Flat Tappet?
Solid flat tappet lifters are simple, proven, and don’t rely on internal hydraulics to function. You get:
- No lifter collapse risk
- Better long-term durability
- Cleaner oiling, less internal debris
- Cam profile optimized for towing and street driving
This isn’t just for race trucks—it’s ideal for anyone who wants to make their daily-driven or workhorse Cummins reliable again.
Who Should Run This Kit?
| Use Case | Should You Convert? |
|---|---|
| Truck is under 100K miles and quiet | Yes – Preventative peace of mind |
| Ticking noise at startup | Yes – Damage may already be happening |
| Metal in oil or failed cam/lifter | Absolutely – Required for rebuild |
| High-performance or tuned truck | Yes – Stock parts won’t last under load |
Where to Get It
We stock this full kit right here at our warehouse and ship fast. It’s the exact same setup we’d run on our own trucks and the one we recommend to every 5th Gen Cummins owner dealing with—or trying to avoid—these failures.
Contact us to order your conversion today - Sales@Fullsenddiesel.com
Still not sure if you need it? Reach out. We’ll help you figure it out before it turns into a blown engine or $20K repair bill.