I'm building a 408 stroker and can choose between an LA or magnum block. Whats the best block or is there no difference? Any benefits one or the other? It will be for a bracket car so it will not see street time.

Do you already have cylinder heads? If you want to pushrod oil either will be fine if you are oiling through the rockers the magnum block needs modified to do that(most of them).

Look for a La360 block preferably a e-58 They are as strong as block as you can find look from 1974- up to 1980 Police engine

I have a 1975 E58 Block. What are the differences? thx matt

Magnum block don't need oil galley mods and pre 96 blocks have shaft oil feed into the head like an LA block.

See sig.....

Mag block is supposedly superior as explained by Dave in Montana. I'm hoping he will remind us why.

To me the Mag block is superior because you can drop in factory hydraulic roller lifters.

The Mag heads are superior as well.

I believe the E58 block had the same casting number as the regular block. So what is superior? They did get a better crankshaft, though.

R.

the e-58 blocks.. also found in Lil red express trucks..
are like early 71-73 340 blocks .
except the main journal diameters are for the 360 crank.
and they are finished to 4.00" bore but can bored much larger because they have a thicker cyl wall than standard 360 blocks

340s were high nickel cast iron. had 318/340 mains
and finish to 4.04" bore.

so chrysler modified the casting molds in 1977ish for a few thousands LR trucks...ok

i believe the e58 just had double roller chains...windage tray and maybe a 340 camshaft...they certainly did not have the thicker bores like the early blocks...

but i dont know ...but i did stay at a motel 6 last night..

I stayed at a Holiday Inn so I win

The e58 motors also had HD hydraulic rocker arms. I always come home very late. Motel 6 for me. "They leave the light on".

Leaning towards a Magnum block for my next build, although I have had good lock with my E58 motors. La Quinta's for me - most have a night watchman that roams the parking lot.

some body ask Ted Spehar
Gary Ostrich did and article or was quoted in a hot rod article.
I understood they were pulled off the assembly line and build by him.
but i dont know my memory isnt what it used to be...1977 was a long time ago...
thats how i understood it..
frankly i could give a [censored] never owned one of them..

ive never stayed at a holiday in... i only stay at the Marriot's Rits Carlton..

E-58 was just a package. Blocks are same as any other block of the era

i have no problem admitting i was wrong. and i very well may be.
i have no dog in the fight.
i also realize how rumors are spread. i wouldnt want to repeat 3rd party info that was wrong..which it appears i may have done.
ill stand corrected.

cheers

how you doin Monte..? havent seen you in a long time.
but i see you are keeping busy. glad to hear from you.

sorry i hi jacked your thread Superchuck

Didn't we just have a pissin' contest of this a couple months ago?

The magnum block I can get is a 1999. I have a set of Eddy L/A heads for a 340, 63cc I plan on using, Will I have to modify the block to use them? I wont have through push rod oiling Don't the magnums have a shorter deck height?

Unfortunately a 99 magnum would need to be modified to accept the LA heads. Basically need a hole machined from the deck to the cam tunnel. Not impossible.

As mentioned the nice thing is that they can use drop in $100 hydraulic roller lofters, and they are stronger then some of the early blocks.

The also benifit from being run in more modern times of quality control so you're more likely to get a better block on average.

I believe you would have to drill the block for oiling, not sure how easy that is. I don't believe the deck height is any different than a regular small block.

here is how I added oiling...drill and tap into galley, remove the little boss from block to give yourself a nice flat pad, drill and tap block, drill deck off head gasket template and intersect with that last hole mentioned. connect with copper tube....only thing maybe out of the ordinary is I chose to use 1/16 pipe fittings for physical size reasons.

Thanks for all the information, everyone! I am going to just stick with the LA block.