Magnum instead of 318?

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gtxdude

gtxdude

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Dropped off 65 Dart at shop yesterday to get my engine & tranny gone through. Matt calls me today & says he has a 360 magnum block from he believes the 90's that we could go through instead of 79 318 motor that's in car. He liked the thought of roller cam in magnum over old style cam & lifters. Will be upgrading to four barrel carb & intake.
Is this a good idea? Going for a mild, close to 300hp rebuild. I'm trying to keep budget low key, if I go with magnum 360 will that run more then staying with 318? I'll check back, thanks
 
Is it magnum or pre magnum.

If you have a 91 or earlier, you can run the early LA style intakes which have a better selection than ones made for the Magnum engines.
 
The answer is yes of course magnum all the way. The chances of finding something that you can just drop in and not touch are very high. If you do check it over it's just hone for rings, swap out bearings and seals, bore wear is rare.
 
would use the magnum every day of the week. Only need to buy the correct flywheel/flexplate and maybe adapt a few things. You can run either style belts/timing cover on the magnum.

You can make 300hp in your sleep with that magnum 360.
 
goldduster318 said:
would use the magnum every day of the week. Only need to buy the correct flywheel/flexplate and maybe adapt a few things. You can run either style belts/timing cover on the magnum.

You can make 300hp in your sleep with that magnum 360.
Click to expand...

^Yup, for the flex plate you only need to elongate 1 hole. Even better.
 
Have to look at block yet as far as which magnum, planning full rebuild which ever one we use. Plan on getting it done for some fall driving yet before you know what happens. brrrrr
 
According to Hot Rod magazine.

Mopar's Magnum 360 crate engines were offered in 300- and 380hp versions, both based on the production Magnum 5.9. The higher-powered engine comes with higher-compression pistons, a long-duration camshaft, and a single-plane Mopar Performance intake. Far more basic, the 300hp version is the same engine as in your typical Durango, van, or Ram truck. With the 300hp crate you get a bone-stock production bottom end, complete with the stock truck pistons and cam. Changes are only the addition of a center-sump passenger-car oil pan, an LA engine-style front cover, a conventional distributor, and a two-plane carbureted intake to replace the factory "beer-barrel" MPI injection system

Read more: http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/...par_engine/msd_distributor.html#ixzz3BFiarvVz

I'll leave it to you to determine how accurate you consider this statement to be.
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MAgnum roller block, heads and a Cross wind intake. Roll-on!
 
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