New MoPar Big Book

[Chris Hill]

Do they have a newer mopar "big book"? I'm looking for info on what would be the best junk yard engine to get for a 73 dart I have with a blown 318 engine. The newest book we have here is one that referances a ported 318 swirl head that was much better than the standard ported 360 head. But given the IHRA crate motor cars, I'd say the magnum heads are better.

My gut says the best junk yard engine would be a 5.9 magnum from a dodge truck, but I have no idea what would be the best year to get due to valve sizes, head castings, etc. Then put a 4 bbl intake on it and have some fun.

Are there any issues converting a 5.9 magnum truck engine to carb engine?

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Chris Hill

Do they have a newer mopar "big book"? I'm looking for info on what would be the best junk yard engine to get for a 73 dart I have with a blown 318 engine. The newest book we have here is one that referances a ported 318 swirl head that was much better than the standard ported 360 head. But given the IHRA crate motor cars, I'd say the magnum heads are better.

My gut says the best junk yard engine would be a 5.9 magnum from a dodge truck, but I have no idea what would be the best year to get due to valve sizes, head castings, etc. Then put a 4 bbl intake on it and have some fun.

Are there any issues converting a 5.9 magnum truck engine to carb engine?

No issues in converting to a carb BUT if you use a junk yard engine make sure you have the heads crack checked. Daily abuse, hot OEM temps, high milage and poor castings make most unusable. Either the LA style or the Magnum are good combos. The Magnum heads are better than the older LA heads on the exhaust side but carry more HP factor for whatever class you would run. Plus there is the advantage of the roller Hyd. cam. I would use the new Indy heads for either as they are better quality, flow better, and are new and fairly cheap and legal replacements. Email Myron or Tim Sloan on this site for the correct numbers and style head. They are better informed as I have been out of it for a long time as far as tech goes. The heads are the same except for the way the rocker arms are mounted and flow much better on the exhaust side.

[Hemiparts]

Look for the Dakota R/T 5.9 magnum heads 99-04 they had the good R/T heads. If you need any help feel free to pm me and I'll give you any info I can get out the Chrysler system as far as casting #'s.

[Chris Hill]

Terry, thanks for the info. This is not for a stocker but a street car to mess around with.

[Chris Barnes]

Assuming that emission "compliance" is not an issue but money and simplicity are I would go with an old school 360. It will drop in relatively easily, it's been done many times. You could make your A body run low thirteens and drive on the street all day for less than $5k. Options would include aftermarket heads and intake but I think a basic quality rebuild would be enough. Spend money on headers or work around the stock exhaust manifolds. Cheap headers are lucky to survive the trip out of the driveway.

Good Luck!
Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Chris Hill

Terry, thanks for the info. This is not for a stocker but a street car to mess around with.

If its a street car I would go for the 360 Magnum style. Build it yourself with flat top pistons as the Magnum has a dish piston. Use the factory 380 HP roller cam or something along those lines and use the "Edelbrock" Alum. heads. They use all Chevy valves, valves train parts, and can use Chevy rocker arms. Plus they come with a good valve spring but you might have to shim them up a little for the roller cam. Check them. The heads are bowl blended from Edelbrock and flow really well. Take them apart and back cut the valves and CC the chambers as they tend to be a little large out of the box. I usually cut them about .025 or .030. Cut them to suit your wants for compression, the type of gas you want to burn and have at it. No fuss....no mess. Its a little extra $$$$$ for the heads but worth it in the long run. You would probably spend more $$$$ and effort making the MoPar heads work as good even if they are the R/T style.. Beside I dislike the "Bead Lock" keepers on the Magnum stuff. Your will have a little over 400 easy honest HP on pump gas and the heads take some weight off of the front of your car. They work better for the "Horse Pizz" gas we buy these days. Built one like it for a friend and it runs high 10's in the quarter with gears, converter, and open headers. A street car should run mid to high 11's with no sweat capped up but you will need a slick. It makes a ton of torque.

[70AARCuda]

Take a look at the Indy/RHS cylinder head.

They are available with either magnum or LA style rocker gear.

http://www.immengines.com/rhsheads.html

[mannymen]

Do the new 360 magnum heads 99-04 and parts interchange with old 360 motors?

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by mannymen

Do the new 360 magnum heads 99-04 and parts interchange with old 360 motors?

Only if you get the correct parts which include special lifters and pushrods to feed oil to the rockers. I believe AMC stuff has a similar system. Mopar makes a conversion kit. Intakes are different in the attaching bolt hole angles.

[Mike Taylor 3601]

Caution on magnum heads they are very bad to crack they crack between valves,I had a guy bring 6 sets from junkyard all cracked. I pressure test a few with very small fine cracks that barely show when magged they didn't even go across the 45's on seat and they leaked on pressure tester,I thought maybe might not leak.

I called core supplier they said yeah we got 300+ of them a few days later they called back they had checked around 40 heads all were cracked the boss said told them to stop.
I had one guy get a good set on 3rd try rest have ended up buying new castings.
I was told mopar had added material to fix the problem but I don't know if thats a fact or not? Finding good junkyard magnums are like it used to be finding old cast iron 2.5 GM was in late 80's early 90's that were good.
Mike Taylor3601