V Belt on Magnum are my thoughts clear

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Mgarrett88

Mgarrett88

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Hello all
Newbie here, doing a lot of reading and I think from what I have read on this site, as well as seen in multiple videos I am ok but want to ask the question anyway.

I have a 72 Scamp 318/904 that I am looking to do the Magnum swap in.
Already have the Magnum stripped down in the garage.

With that being said I would like to keep the VBelt LA look on the car.
Here is my plan and questions I have.
I am not building a race car, just a fun driving, reliable street car so BIG HP is not necessarily the must have. The Magnum Swap website car build is about what I am going for maybe even a bit more tame, no thing crazy.
Heads-undecided, more than likely I will pay the bigger bucks and go with the Edelbrock heads but my builder said even for my requirements the new EQ heads would work since my HP demand is not through the roof.
Intake-Edelbrock RPM air gap
Mechanical Fan
Plan to use LA timing cover from the 318 on the 5.9 magnum.
I am not running AC.
Question- Will my alternator and power steering pump from the 318 LA bolt up and line up properly?
I assume from what I am reading it will.
My magnum has the 1 piece balancer, so I know i will need to buy an aftermarket balancer that I can then bolt on the V Belt pulley.
Can I use the pulley off of the LA on the new balancer?
Looking for guidance and some confirmations
 
YUP, WILL ALL BOLT UP. 1 HOLE IN THE CRANK PULLEY WILL NEED OVALED OUT BUT THAT IS ALL.
20190709_114425.jpg
 
The answer to your questions is yes. I did this swap also in my Scamp your also gonna need LA 340/360 motor mount brackets. Listen to your builder and go with the EQ heads don't waste the money on Edelbrock's you can use that extra money somewhere else on the car like a good electric fuel pump ect. Good luck with your swap you'll love the end result.
 
wanta68cuda said:
The answer to your questions is yes. I did this swap also in my Scamp your also gonna need LA 340/360 motor mount brackets. Listen to your builder and go with the EQ heads don't waste the money on Edelbrock's you can use that extra money somewhere else on the car like a good electric fuel pump ect. Good luck with your swap you'll love the end result.
Click to expand...
Yup good to go on the motor mount brackets.
Good to know that my thoughts were correct. I am gathering parts right now.

Ne EQ heads are not a performance head but for a mainly stock 5.9 with a cam upgrade he said that the new EQs with some extra work on their end (polish and porting), that it will be fine for a fun reliable cruiser. I doubt this car will see any track time. Just fun on the back country roads pretty much.
Going to do some more research and talking for sure.
Thanks for the response

Anymore information on your swap? Snags you ran into or things to look out for?
I am going to rebuild and use the 904, and i have a 8 3/4 housing and 489 case that needs to be built up as well replacing the 7-1/4.
 
Mgarrett88 said:
Yup good to go on the motor mount brackets.
Good to know that my thoughts were correct. I am gathering parts right now.

Ne EQ heads are not a performance head but for a mainly stock 5.9 with a cam upgrade he said that the new EQs with some extra work on their end (polish and porting), that it will be fine for a fun reliable cruiser. I doubt this car will see any track time. Just fun on the back country roads pretty much.
Going to do some more research and talking for sure.
Thanks for the response

Anymore information on your swap? Snags you ran into or things to look out for?
I am going to rebuild and use the 904, and i have a 8 3/4 housing and 489 case that needs to be built up as well replacing the 7-1/4.
Click to expand...

You will probably need to grind off one of the bosses on the drivers side of the block, as it interferes with some headers.
Test fit after the heads are on and before the motor goes in and you will see it.
Also if using the stock 904 converter you will need the magnum flex plate for the right balance unless you buy aftermarket.
One bolt hole in the factory flex plate also needs egged out about 1/8 inch to line up with the stock 904 converter bolt holes.
You can even run stock or aftermarket LA valve covers on the magnum or EQ heads, as the 5 LA bolt holes are in the same place as 5 of the bolts on the magnum heads.
I’m running fabricated aluminum LA covers with the nice OE silicone gaskets from the magnum.
I did space my power steering pump forward about 1/8 inch, but that just involved a couple of washers between the block and bracket.
 
TrailBeast said:
You will probably need to grind off one of the bosses on the drivers side of the block, as it interferes with some headers.
Test fit after the heads are on and before the motor goes in and you will see it.
Also if using the stock 904 converter you will need the magnum flex plate for the right balance unless you buy aftermarket.
One bolt hole in the factory flex plate also needs egged out about 1/8 inch to line up with the stock 904 converter bolt holes.
You can even run stock or aftermarket LA valve covers on the magnum or EQ heads, as the 5 LA bolt holes are in the same place as 5 of the bolts on the magnum heads.
I’m running fabricated aluminum LA covers with the nice OE silicone gaskets from the magnum.
I did space my power steering pump forward about 1/8 inch, but that just involved a couple of washers between the block and bracket.
Click to expand...

Got the Flex Plate off of the Magnum that I bought. I made sure of that when I started this process.
I just wanted to make sure that my continued thought was correct on VBELT set up with my plan at this time.
 
All great information above!

I sent my Magnum cam to Oregon Cam Grinding for a regrind, which meant I would need an electric fuel pump. Then used a 70 ish (?) timing cover and blocked off the fuel pump hole.

Then I used everything else off my LA: water pump, power steering pump, fan and all v-belt pulleys.

The only issue is with the Magnum timing marks. Magnum engines have the timing marks on the drivers side. The later timing cover also has drivers side timing marks so the marks work with the harmonic balancer marks. BUT, the earlier water pump with the drivers side output makes it difficult to see the marks. I painted a line on the cover, and three lines on the harmonic balancer (TDC, 20, and 36) to help. Some time, I'm going to fabricate a pointer on the passenger side. Lots of room there.

Keep us posted on your build.
 
Mgarrett88 said:
Yup good to go on the motor mount brackets.
Good to know that my thoughts were correct. I am gathering parts right now.

Ne EQ heads are not a performance head but for a mainly stock 5.9 with a cam upgrade he said that the new EQs with some extra work on their end (polish and porting), that it will be fine for a fun reliable cruiser. I doubt this car will see any track time. Just fun on the back country roads pretty much.
Going to do some more research and talking for sure.
Thanks for the response

Anymore information on your swap? Snags you ran into or things to look out for?
I am going to rebuild and use the 904, and i have a 8 3/4 housing and 489 case that needs to be built up as well replacing the 7-1/4.
Click to expand...

Go to Magnumswaps.com and read up on what they've done it's full awesome tech and swap info and a lot of parts you're gonna need. I used the 904 also so you're gonna need the magnum flex plate and a neutral torque converter for it to work together. If you read the website it'll tell you that you gotta drill out one bolt hole a little oblong for all the bolt holes to match up. Also you'll find the harmonic balancer your gonna need for the LA pully to work. As another has stated if your using headers you will have to grind off one of the bosses on the passenger side. Do yourself a favor and test fit them on the stand and do the grinding there. Ask me how I know LOL. Believe me you don't want to do it while it's in the car.
 
wanta68cuda said:
Go to Magnumswaps.com and read up on what they've done it's full awesome tech and swap info and a lot of parts you're gonna need. I used the 904 also so you're gonna need the magnum flex plate and a neutral torque converter for it to work together. If you read the website it'll tell you that you gotta drill out one bolt hole a little oblong for all the bolt holes to match up. Also you'll find the harmonic balancer your gonna need for the LA pully to work. As another has stated if your using headers you will have to grind off one of the bosses on the passenger side. Do yourself a favor and test fit them on the stand and do the grinding there. Ask me how I know LOL. Believe me you don't want to do it while it's in the car.
Click to expand...


yea Headers will be the next issue i face. I dont want to spend a ton of cash on nice headers just to have to dent them up. I dont have an issue purchasing the Dougs or TTIs as long as they fit and i dont have to beat on them. I am running power steering in a 72 scamp. Any thoughts as to which ones would fit better? I know I will have to grind the bosses thats fine just dont want to dent the headers.
Anyone ever use these?
Small Block Tri-Y Headers
 
From the info I found on this forum, Summit Racing 9040 (or 9140 for shiny option) fit well with a magnum. Also 680144 exhaust kit should work very well, just need to trim the pipes in the right places by about 3 inches.
Hoping to do this swap over the winter

Use search here or google to find topic called "Summit Headers and 2 1/2" dual exhaust in '68 A-body w 5.9 Magnum"
 
Last edited:
UZswapBarge said:
From the info I found on this forum, Summit Racing 9040 (or 9140 for shiny option) fit well with a magnum. Also 680144 exhaust kit should work very well, just need to trim the pipes in the right places by about 3 inches.
Hoping to do this swap over the winter

Use search here or google to find topic called "Summit Headers and 2 1/2" dual exhaust in '68 A-body w 5.9 Magnum"
Click to expand...
These are the ones I used with very little banging on them. The only place I had to bang on mine was at the power steering shaft. You will have to drop your steering linkage to get the headers in but not a big problem.
 
wanta68cuda said:
Go to Magnumswaps.com and read up on what they've done it's full awesome tech and swap info and a lot of parts you're gonna need. I used the 904 also so you're gonna need the magnum flex plate and a neutral torque converter for it to work together. If you read the website it'll tell you that you gotta drill out one bolt hole a little oblong for all the bolt holes to match up. Also you'll find the harmonic balancer your gonna need for the LA pully to work. As another has stated if your using headers you will have to grind off one of the bosses on the passenger side. Do yourself a favor and test fit them on the stand and do the grinding there. Ask me how I know LOL. Believe me you don't want to do it while it's in the car.
Click to expand...
The only new 360 mag to 904 flexplate Is a B&M numbers plate from Mancini Racing ($189). If you have the original magnum from plate it will work with
A neutral balanced converter. As mentioned you will need to oblong 1 plate hole. I heard that Holley has them, but i couldnt find it.
My 360 mag has Complete LA setup (70 up)
Mgarrett88 said:
Hello all
Newbie here, doing a lot of reading and I think from what I have read on this site, as well as seen in multiple videos I am ok but want to ask the question anyway.

I have a 72 Scamp 318/904 that I am looking to do the Magnum swap in.
Already have the Magnum stripped down in the garage.

With that being said I would like to keep the VBelt LA look on the car.
Here is my plan and questions I have.
I am not building a race car, just a fun driving, reliable street car so BIG HP is not necessarily the must have. The Magnum Swap website car build is about what I am going for maybe even a bit more tame, no thing crazy.
Heads-undecided, more than likely I will pay the bigger bucks and go with the Edelbrock heads but my builder said even for my requirements the new EQ heads would work since my HP demand is not through the roof.
Intake-Edelbrock RPM air gap
Mechanical Fan
Plan to use LA timing cover from the 318 on the 5.9 magnum.
I am not running AC.
Question- Will my alternator and power steering pump from the 318 LA bolt up and line up properly?
I assume from what I am reading it will.
My magnum has the 1 piece balancer, so I know i will need to buy an aftermarket balancer that I can then bolt on the V Belt pulley.
Can I use the pulley off of the LA on the new balancer?
Looking for guidance and some confirmations
Click to expand...
Here Ya go
If you are going to run a mechanical fuel pump get the cam pump eccentric from Hughes

1105210622a_HDR.jpg


1105210622_HDR.jpg


1105210627_HDR.jpg
 
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