Worker overheated a 360 magnum 2500 Ram auto work truck, truck has a lot of life left in it IMO. Two heads are cracked. So my options are a junk/sell it as is, a rebuilt motor, used heads, used motor, new Alum RPM heads, new performance CI heads, etc. Its a street truck, often tows, maybe 25K mileage a year. I don't mind "investing" in alum heads, since they would find their way into something faster down the road, more then likely, but if the CR increases too much, or the OEM computer would be confused, its a no go.

Suggestions?

Current mileage?

A legitimate location?

Who said heads were cracked and why? Head gasket is more likely.

Depending on location, replacement heads may be the practical choice. Or the used engine.

175K
Heads are off, cracked I'm told visible between valves, by proven reliable old timer, both heads

Magnum heads always crack right there. EQ heads are made in Australia to fill the need and I am told that they are pretty good. Tight valve guides may be a problem so a machine shop should check them.

Or get a long block from Carolina engines or a Jasper engine.

If it were mine I think I would replace it with a complete rebuilt engine from one of the reputable reman companies.

I know its an old mechanics tale, that I never believed until it happened to me, but good heads on a old block can cause the rings to fail, in my case immediately.

Bill

I would get engine quest heads from hughes. They put bronze guides and better springs in them

I've had a lot of mechanics tell me the same thing...no use putting fresh heads on a high mileage shortblock. It'll be back real soon w/ more problems. Never had the problem myself, but never been in that situation either.

The Magnum heads are VERY prone to cracking b/t the seats. Saw very few of them come through the machine shop that weren't cracked. Now all of them weren't leaking water and hadn't all been run hot, but cracked nonetheless. No way to tell when or if the cracks would become an issue. And pressure checking a cast iron head w/ cracks like that will tell you NOTHING.

I'd get a reman engine and put it in.

Price a new truck, then a rebuilt engine, with the good heads, or even a "crate engine". As I write I am finishing up a 2001 ram van for the shop, $2000 in it so far and it has ONE computer. Drives and runs fine, paint bad, (185,000), all it cost me now is gas and basic insurance. Don't care if you can take a new one off taxes, that payment still comes out of pocket each month.

175k sounds high, but I had a 98 ram with 230k on and it never had the engine apart and ran great. If it was me, I'd find a good set of heads, have them pressure tested and install... which is most likely the cheapest option.

Throw on a set of EQ heads if the heads really are the problem (doubt it as almost all magnum heads are cracked but never actually seen one useing water because of the crack heads). I even bought a brand new pair one time from dodge and they were cracked so I gave up paying much atention to the cracks, they would need to travel up almost 3 inches in to the ports to get water and never seen em more than about 1/2 inch. There are several points that leak water on those, timing covers, thermostats, intake manifolds, water pimp...

Happened to me too.
Car ran fine for a few hundred miles then poof, the rings went south.
Of course mine was a '68.
Maybe the newer motors aren't as prone.

Mine was a 1980 D-3500 with a 360. It started once on its own after the rebuilt heads were installed. After that I had to put oil in the cylinders to get it to start. I did a in the chassis ball hone ring job and got it going again. Never would have believed it if I had not lived it.
Bill

Got a used under 50K 360 Magnum delivered this morning for $750.
Thanks for all the good suggestions, I learned a lot.

If it got hot enough to kill the heads, it didn't do the rings any favors, and at 175K, most everything inside is tired. I'd stick a reman in it, unless you can find a low-mileage used engine, which you've done. Good move.

We had a cracked head on Dizusters 97 ram, 360. Had 200K and a spark plug had broken on removal. Cracked between the seats. Put it back on, went well over 300K without loseing water. His buddy has it now. I believe its still going approaching 400K.
Doug

There you go.
I wish you many more miles.

I just picked up a 75 Cordoba with the 360 for a drive train in my '78.