Getting Ready for the Magnum Swap. (help?)

The cracked head issue is so stupid. Yes, they will be cracked. They pretty much all are.

My grandpa bought a 1994 ram brand new and put ~350k miles on it. He bought a low mile 1996 ram around 2000. The 94 was eventually repainted, new seat, etc and given to me on my 16th birthday in 2007. Drove it for years before it got rear ended and totalled. He has retired and is still limping around in the beat up and UGLY 1996 ram. It has over 460k miles on the original engine. It smokes, leaks, etc. Heads aren't an issue. My dad has a 5.9 ram with 200k miles on it and ill bet the heads are cracked. It runs great and he drices it every day. The magnum engine in my dart had cracked heads. I got a great deal on hughes EQ 2.02 heads so I swapped them out during a rebuild. The magnum swap can be very cheap. Reuse LA accessories, brackets, headers/manifolds, valve covers, engine mounts, etc.

The hemi is a much better choice if your wanting power. But it's also more money and doesn't look right in an otherwise original car, I think. Hemis can have lifter and cam issues, timing chain issues, etc. They aren't bullet proof either. And EVERYTHING has to be hemi specific. Accessories, timing cover, fuel pump, headers, engine mounts.... it all adds up!