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LA or Magnum #509281
10/27/09 09:32 PM
10/27/09 09:32 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 231
Cumberland County, NJ
coronetkid Offline OP
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coronetkid  Offline OP
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Posts: 231
Cumberland County, NJ
how do i tell if the 318 in my truck is a LA or Magnum? it's not the original motor and i don't know what year it is.

Re: LA or Magnum [Re: coronetkid] #509282
10/27/09 09:44 PM
10/27/09 09:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 231
Cumberland County, NJ
coronetkid Offline OP
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coronetkid  Offline OP
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Cumberland County, NJ
or perhaps a Poly?

Re: LA or Magnum [Re: coronetkid] #509283
10/27/09 09:51 PM
10/27/09 09:51 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 266
Seattle Wa
PowerWagonDude Offline
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LA has 5 bolt valve covers. Magnum has 10 bolt valve covers. Poly has a scalloped lower valve cover rail

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Re: LA or Magnum [Re: PowerWagonDude] #509284
10/27/09 09:53 PM
10/27/09 09:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,111
Bowie, MD
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Reggie Offline
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Bowie, MD
Quote:

LA has 5 bolt valve covers. Magnum has 10 bolt valve covers. Poly has a scalloped lower valve cover rail




Ditto. Also, a Magnum has rectangular shaped valve covers and vertical intake bolts. Unless the intake has been swapped for an aftermarlet unit, a Magnum will have a tall "beer barrel" style intake. The Magnum block should also have a mounting boss on the passenger side for a crank trigger. LA engine will have rounded end valve covers and angled intake bolts.

Last edited by Reggie; 10/27/09 09:54 PM.
Re: LA or Magnum [Re: Reggie] #509285
10/27/09 10:32 PM
10/27/09 10:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,371
Costa Mesa, CA
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chache876 Offline
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Costa Mesa, CA
just so you know, LA style valve covers fit on magnum engines so its not a 'for sure' sign.

Re: LA or Magnum [Re: chache876] #509286
10/27/09 11:27 PM
10/27/09 11:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,111
Bowie, MD
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Reggie Offline
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Quote:

just so you know, LA style valve covers fit on magnum engines so its not a 'for sure' sign.




Yep, and Magnum heads fit on LA blocks, so that ain't a 'for sure' sign either.

Re: LA or Magnum [Re: Reggie] #509287
10/28/09 12:06 AM
10/28/09 12:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,424
Kalispell Mt.
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HotRodDave Offline
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Kalispell Mt.
The easiest way to tell if the block is LA or magnum is to look on the back of the block right below the pass. side head and see if there is a mounting spot for a crank sensor. The crank sensor bolts directly to the block via two bolts going straight up and down to the crank.


I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!



Re: LA or Magnum [Re: HotRodDave] #509288
10/28/09 12:27 AM
10/28/09 12:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,826
las vegas
70AARcuda Offline
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las vegas
Quote:

The easiest way to tell if the block is LA or magnum is to look on the back of the block right below the pass. side head and see if there is a mounting spot for a crank sensor. The crank sensor bolts directly to the block via two bolts going straight up and down to the crank.




i got two 1989 360s that are LA engines that have the mount for the crank sensor on them...so.....

i would go with the valve covers and look at the intake bolts...vertical for magnums


Tony

70 AARCuda Vitamin C
71 Dart Swinger 360 10.318 @ 128.22(10-04-14 Bakersfield)
71 Demon 360 10.666 @122.41 (01-29-17 @ Las Vegas)
71 Duster 408 (10.29 @ 127.86 3/16/19 Las Vegas)
Re: LA or Magnum [Re: 70AARcuda] #509289
10/28/09 08:20 AM
10/28/09 08:20 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,826
NY usa
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540challenger Offline
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540challenger  Offline
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NY usa
Quote:

Quote:

The easiest way to tell if the block is LA or magnum is to look on the back of the block right below the pass. side head and see if there is a mounting spot for a crank sensor. The crank sensor bolts directly to the block via two bolts going straight up and down to the crank.




i got two 1989 360s that are LA engines that have the mount for the crank sensor on them...so.....

i would go with the valve covers and look at the intake bolts...vertical for magnums




Magnums also have different motor mount provisons

They have the LA "Ear" type Plus the newer style which bolt directly into the block.

The LA only has the ear type

Re: LA or Magnum [Re: 540challenger] #509290
10/28/09 07:30 PM
10/28/09 07:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,424
Kalispell Mt.
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HotRodDave Offline
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Kalispell Mt.
Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

The easiest way to tell if the block is LA or magnum is to look on the back of the block right below the pass. side head and see if there is a mounting spot for a crank sensor. The crank sensor bolts directly to the block via two bolts going straight up and down to the crank.




i got two 1989 360s that are LA engines that have the mount for the crank sensor on them...so.....

i would go with the valve covers and look at the intake bolts...vertical for magnums




Magnums also have different motor mount provisons

They have the LA "Ear" type Plus the newer style which bolt directly into the block.

The LA only has the ear type




I have a 91 318 and a 91 360 and neither has the crank sensor mounts. Also they both have the magnum style mounts so

How bout this for a gaurantee you can or can not run LA heads, the oil hole in the deck for the pushrods has to be there or you can not just bolt on LA heads, some early magnum blocks had the holes but they were completly gone i a couple years and were magnum only.


I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!



Re: LA or Magnum [Re: HotRodDave] #509291
10/29/09 11:38 AM
10/29/09 11:38 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 231
Cumberland County, NJ
coronetkid Offline OP
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coronetkid  Offline OP
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Posts: 231
Cumberland County, NJ
well it's a running 318 in my 87 w100. it has the 5 hole valve covers....sooo. lol i dunno was just curious what i had. i have only owned this truck for about 3 weeks. and it is suppose to have a 360 in it but it swapped at some point. i will try to find the casting numbers today. thanks

Re: LA or Magnum [Re: coronetkid] #509292
10/30/09 12:59 AM
10/30/09 12:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,424
Kalispell Mt.
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HotRodDave Offline
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Kalispell Mt.
I just double checked my 91 360 and it does not have the magnum mount holes or the crank sensor mount.


I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!



Re: LA or Magnum [Re: HotRodDave] #509293
10/30/09 08:04 AM
10/30/09 08:04 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
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Posts: 15,487
Florida
mags are 92-93

91 is a pre-mag roller cam block,it would not have the mag mounts,IIRC

and my 1990 per-mag oiled the old LA style thru the block,heads,shafts,rockers

AND had oil thru lifters with hollow push rods though..

geared up for mag heads in 92








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