150 HP LA 318 - vs - 230 HP Magnum 318

Prine said
sure.....I have No Idea.

Say What You Want....you obviously already have.

Magnums are junk....good for a boat anchor, IMO.
The LA went unchanged from 65-92 because it was designed right, and never crapped out till the 318 Nylon timing gear broke....because it was designed that way.
And Ma' used Moly rings in the 80's LA's.....so their bores are still good at 100k too...

MAGNUMS have Different Intake bolt holes, different valve covers, different valvetrain, different timing cover....and their computer controlled OEM.

Sure, anyone can slap one together, and slip it into an Abody if they are determined enough.....but they are different than a good ole LA.....and with different comes NEW problems.

My advice, and the advice I offer to people who post questions like the OP asked.....is Honest, and valuable to a guy who doesnt have alot of money, and cant afford to make costly mistakes.

You need to get a clue there 64drtgt.......the valve covers and the roller cam, and the pedestal mounted rockers dont make them Better,.....it makes them different, and more complicated when your trying to Frankestein a car together.

Sure the intakes are diffrent but for a few dollars more you can buy an intake that will fit a magnum and a LA there is one of your problems solved.
LA valve covers WILL fit a magnum and not leak if you use LA gaskets.
Magnum heads other than the cracking issue flow better have bigger valves and are generally a better head in stock trim than LA. Sure they stayed the same from 65-92 and mopar took that into consideration and only changed things that was less that optimal with they designed the magnum. Roller cams are more expensive to buy in but in the long run they pay for them selfs no special oils and they dont wear the same ways as the old cams. The timing cover bolts right on from a LA and with a hughes adapter allows you to run a mech fuel pump.

If your broke like me and need to find a reliable engine to plop in something a magnum is the way to go I can almost bet anyone of us can go to a local yard and find a semi low mileage maggie throw a few hundred dollars worth of parts on it and have a engine that will run circles around your LA with a carb and headers.