360 mag with X heads anyone?

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Lil Demon

Lil Demon

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So I picked up a nice 72 Satellite that is powered by a 360 magnum roller block but it’s topped with LA style heads that I haven’t identified cause the casting # is on the bottom and a cast iron 2bbl intake. I’m thinking of throwing in a small cam, I have a set X heads along with a Performer intake and 600 carb. Just wondering if anyone has ever put X heads on a magnum shortblock. Would it work well?, or am I overlooking something?? Thanks
 
If it has LA heads on already, everything should change over. No sweat. However, it is(or should be) common knowledge that a factory Magnum head rivals even the mighty X head. Downside, good luck finding a stock Magnum head that ISN'T cracked.
 
I know only one thing about magnum, it oils thru pushrods. LA oils thru the rocker shafts. What’s your current oil path to the top?
 
Thanks for the response, yes I am aware of the magnum head advantage I was already shopping for magnum valve springs when it dawned on my that it had the cast iron intake of an LA motor with the angled bolts. I pulled the VC off to identify the head but unfortunately the casting # wasn’t under the VC. I also just read that there’s oiling differences between LA and magnum so it seems to me it shouldn’t work. I’m perplexed as to what exactly I have. I’ll have to pull the intake off to check casting #’s and know for sure what I’ve got.
 
Wvbuzzmaster said:
I know only one thing about magnum, it oils thru pushrods. LA oils thru the rocker shafts. What’s your current oil path to the top?
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Not sure, I just realized that too so I’m gonna do a little more digging in to figure out what I got. It seemed like a regular LA rocker shaft but I really didn’t pay too much attention when I pulled it off. Vehicle not near me at the moment to check
 
I read that when running Magnum heads on LA to use AMC lifters and oil thru pushrods to fix that. I would think the magnum being set up to oil thru the pushrods it may be doing just that only with LA heads?
Only real way to know be to run it with valve cover off and see where the oil is coming from...
 
Early 318/360 magnums had the provisions for oiling through the block also fyi. More curious how low the compression will be with open chamber heads. Stock Magnum is supposed to be around 9 to 1 with stock closed chambers.
 
Rockerdude said:
Early 318/360 magnums had the provisions for oiling through the block also fyi. More curious how low the compression will be with open chamber heads. Stock Magnum is supposed to be around 9 to 1 with stock closed chambers.
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Oh interesting on the oiling, thanks.Yup I really want to know what heads it’s got. I’m assuming it’s got some terrible smog era heads, so that why I figured the X head would be better.
 
Does it have 10 valve cover bolts or 5 valve cover bolts ?
 
How do you know it’s a magnum? If it has no external oiling to the rocker shafts, you either have an early magnum block with oiling through the deck, or amc lifters which won’t be roller, or an LA block.
 
TT5.9mag said:
How do you know it’s a magnum? If it has no external oiling to the rocker shafts, you either have an early magnum block with oiling through the deck, or amc lifters which won’t be roller, or an LA block.
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Block casting number is 53020006-360, that checked out as a magnum block according to my search.
 
You had the valve covers off. What do the rockers look like? Shaft mounted stamped steel like stock LA or some sort of aftermarket. If stock style, it most likely will be a 89-93 pre-magnum roller block that still has the LA head oiling path. If they are aftermarket rollers, they could be oiling through the pushrods (or not) but you won't know for sure without taking it apart further. Before you buy a cam, you better figure out what you have for lifters. Flat tappet or roller. You can run FT in a roller block I think.
 
408 swinger said:
If it has LA heads on already, everything should change over. No sweat. However, it is(or should be) common knowledge that a factory Magnum head rivals even the mighty X head. Downside, good luck finding a stock Magnum head that ISN'T cracked.
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Fact- The magnum head does not rival the x head.
You might be accurate if you said 1.88 360 la head vs magnum.
 
This thread is all over the place with guesses. I would suggest checking out the parts you have further so you know for sure what you are starting with before buying any parts to change things up.

That casting number can be a Magnum that has LA oiling holes drilled, which would allow an LA cam and cylinder head package with no oiling issues. You won't know for sure until you check it. If it has LA heads and rocker arms, just check for oil to the rocker arms. This is cleaner if done like a pre-lubing procedure, but can be done with engine running and a valve cover removed. If rockers are getting oil, engine is set up properly, which is very likely the case here.

Next, decide if you would be happy with the cost versus benefit of changing heads as you asked. Would you really see enough power increase to justify the cost of changing to an X head? If it has smog era 360 LA heads and you change to X heads with no camshaft upgrade, I doubt the cost would justify the effort and result.
 
Man I doubt it's an EQ head, this thing was literally built in mexico, that's why I have a feeling it's got some early 80's head. I'll try to get the intake off today to check the casting number of the head
 
gzig5 said:
You had the valve covers off. What do the rockers look like? Shaft mounted stamped steel like stock LA or some sort of aftermarket. If stock style, it most likely will be a 89-93 pre-magnum roller block that still has the LA head oiling path. If they are aftermarket rollers, they could be oiling through the pushrods (or not) but you won't know for sure without taking it apart further. Before you buy a cam, you better figure out what you have for lifters. Flat tappet or roller. You can run FT in a roller block I think.
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rockers are stock stamped steel, I did confirm it is a roller lifter motor, and yes will definitely learn exactly what i have before I order anything. Thanks
 
Casting date, 25.6.92 so I suppose it’s a model year 1993 magnum block. Here’s a pic of the head uncovered. I slapped it together, going to wash it up and pull the intake off. Seems to be oiling through the rocker shaft. Pushrods have holes but rockers do not. Everything looks clean and well lubricated.

877593B0-9930-4B1B-9451-A04508ED7D05.jpeg
 
What in the world makes you think it's a magnum? Its older probably, or if your lucky, it's a 92 360 which is a roller LA, and would have came factory with "308" heads
 
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