NOTE; Application to base answers on, is a 1983 D 250 3/4 ton truck, 2 wheel drive 318, 727 trans, 3.55 gears, 235/85/16 tires (32" tall/narrow) stock original 25 year old shortblock incl the cam. (2 barrel motor) and NO, a cam change is not in the plans. Daily driver, not often used as a "truck" but when it is used as such, it is probably over worked. (<10% of the time) 119K miles (verified not 200K+) as it was a 1-owner before it was mine

(1) Rather than to send the Magnum heads in to be drilled for an LA intake can the LA (either OE, or aftermarket versions) intake be modified to work on the Magnum heads?

(2) Yes, I know that the Magnums have no center port from which the EGR can feed (Yeah I know they carboned up anyway, on the LA series) but aside from that, I know an LA engine EGR could not be made to work, (92-95 it was off the back of the intake via a tube that went to the ex manifold, 96+ engines did not even HAVE EGR)
BUT; if your '80s 318 passed with the stock heads would it pass sniffer with the Magnum heads (assuming same carb and cam as it passed with the LA heads) ; I know a visual would be tough w/o the EGR at least "appearing" to be hooked up and functional); this is kind of a "devils Advocate" Q, as I don't have testing where I am at. If I was not gonna be swapping these heads I'd be blocking off the EGR anyway. Like I said; Devil's Advocate question here.

(3); which aftermarket, made-for-Magnum heads intake, would be better; I know MP sells a single plane 4 bbl intake; but for my purposes, I am only considering dual plane manifolds.
My choices are the Edelbrock Air Gap or the MP Dual Plane? Would the Air Gap prevent percolation problems on a hot motor? (Had that problem with an AFB on my old Diplomat that I put headers and 2-1/2" true catless duals on.)This Truck has factory 3 row, Maximum Cooling package radiator. Any other advantages/disadvantages to either of these intakes?

(4) which bypass hose and upper rad hose; LA or magnum (still has LA water pump, timing cover and accessories)

(5) any issues with either of these intake manifolds, keeping the A/C? (personally I don't care, but my wife has asthma; A/C is handy in the summer) also partly why I am asking above, about modding an LA intake to fit the Mag heads, though. Because I know the AC works with that setup.

(6) How much difference in CR, between using the MP 0.028" Magnum head gaskets vs a stock set of LA engine FelPro's (~0.042" if I remember correctly) more than a couple tenths of a point?
(6a) what CR can I expect compared to the stock heads? (I don't wanna have to run Premium)and I have both sets of head gaskets here.

I have a set of fresh Magnum heads sitting here collecting dust; the valve guide seals on the original heads are shot (25 years old; SURPRISE, huh?)
Also I am 98% sure I am using a 625 CFM AFB. (just won one via Ebay incl a Strip Kit)
and the LA intake useability question also has to do with having an Edelbrock LA series Performer intake here already; I had a brain fart and was briefly thinking of putting either the stock 2 BBL on it or even a 2 BBL version of an SP-2P that I know of I can get; any of these would be cheaper than buying either an MP or Eddy Magnum intake (disability pay sucks) and I DO NOT want the Crosswind; I refuse to put a Made in China intake on my truck!
Already have the pushrod and lifters covered, too.
Oh yeah; (7) Do I have a choice whether I use the LA or Magnum ex manifolds? (can't afford duals right now so have to use whatever works with teh stock exhaust for the time being)