New to magnum swaps - opportunity came to me - is it worth it

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cudajames

cudajames

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I am in the process of looking for a new motor ( was looking for an LA360) for my 66 cuda. Went to see this motor, pictured below which turned out to be a 360 magnum. It appears to have already been converted to use in an older car.
The carb and valve covers are gone - what is a good price for this motor? Besides, external balance, what else would I need to install in my car (904 tranny and already a v8 car)
Does have headers for extra cost - they will not work for the cuda

Block id - 5302005-360 with date code 18o70 (which is 7-18-200?)
Cylinder head - 5302466

I am open to the swap ( goal of swap is more horse power - hopefully 400 range depending on my bank account - open to changing heads, cam etc)

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Standard headers will fit. Old style valve covers will work fine.
A dual plane will be better for the street.
The single plane will command more money than a new rpm.

Is that a stock engine or create engine?
If a stock engine (out of a truck or something like that) the flywheel can be re used with a zero balance converter.
B&M has a balanced for your needs. You’ll just have to know which one. That depends on the engine itself.

The MP create engines are balanced differently than stock.

Worth? Good question.You’ll need
 
The story from the seller, the engine was in a Challenger that got wrecked. Car parted out - months(not sure how many) later motor listed for sell (with some other motors and parts - I am assuming the seller is a car and parts reseller for a living)

The performance m1 single plane is interesting. Also, can't really tell in the pictures but the heads looks like newer - fresher paint and freeze plugs than the block
 
That isn't the correct flexplate for a magnum 360. It should work on a magnum 318. But a magnum 360/5.9 needs weights on the flexplate. So youll need a stock 1996 and up 5 9 magnum flexplate. 95 and earlier 5.9 flexplates are neutral balanced and the convertors had the weights. Not a serious or expensive issue... But it'll need to be corrected! Also if you have ALL of the LA brackets, accessories, and timing cover you can use those on the magnum. If not, you might consider using the magnum serpentine setup. Looks like it already has the correct car oil pan installed. Already has a magnum bolt pattern intake and a non EFI distributor. So it won' be any harder than a normal LA engine swap.
 
Single plain and internal balance tells me either:

A. It ran like garbage its whole life
Or
B. Theres more under the surface of this thing...
 
How much? Tell em with it sitting all opened up like that it's just a core. But.... it kind of looks promising.
 
$600 for the motor - (prices are a little higher in the bay area and there really isn't a lot of options). I didn't get a picture, the plugs were dark - I believe from the engine running rich, no build up
 
cudajames said:
$600 for the motor - (prices are a little higher in the bay area and there really isn't a lot of options). I didn't get a picture, the plugs were dark - I believe from the engine running rich, no build up
Click to expand...

I paid 5 for mine with 96k on it but it looked a whole lot better than that, not that it matters what they look like necessarily.
Unless it's opened up and inspected it's a core (to the buyer) and the seller should understand that. (what if it has a spun bearing or scratched to hell cylinder?)
Personally I would tell him 200 unopened or maybe 5 if opened and looks good.
If he has a problem with that, then you will probably want to pass and look for an un altered Mag. (just my opinion obviously)
The guy I got mine from promised to give me my money back if the motor wasn't in runnable condition.
He offered to refund some of the cost just because it had cracked heads, but I told him I expected that going in and was planning to replace them anyway.

Those heads are either cast replacements (like Iron Ram, EQ) or stock Magnum heads.
EQ's say CH318A on one end with that intake bolt pattern.
If by chance they are the stock Mag heads the chances of having to swap them out for non cracked valve seat area is REALLY high.
 
FYI - could be a Mopar Performance crate engine. Most of the crate engines came from Mopar with the M1 single-plane intake.
 
Well, there are costs associated with the swap besides the cost of the used engine.

I'm just finishing up my5.9 magnum swap. I paid $450 for the engine. Bought an edelbrock airgap manifold, gasket set, rings, bearings, timing gear set, timing chain tensioner, had to replace the cam, so just got a stock replacement. Used my existing carb, trans, etc. Had to add an electric pump, pressure regulator, fuel lines, fuel tank pickup, oil, filter, paint, Lokcar throttle and kickdown cables, new intake manifold bolts, etc, etc, etc. I have a little over $2000 in the swap.
 
You could sell the single plane intake for almost what you paid for the engine.
 
I have a stock 5.9 mag flexplate if you need one.
 
I'd say with that intake on it, I'd go 450.00. Intake should be worth 200.00, so you going 250 for the long block. I'd think this would be a decent deal for you. That's what i see from the picture. If i was there in person and could inspect the plugs, look in the cylinders with a light, look in the valley with a light, etc. etc., I may pay him his 600.00 if i believed it was truly a ready to run motor.
 
I will buy 2 by a can find a magnum M1 single plane intake for $200.00. They are like a unicorn around here. Especially if its an M1 injected single plane
 
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