More Magnum Block Oiling Questions

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mopowers

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1) I've read that some early 5.9 magnum blocks have oil holes for shaft oiling through the head (even though they're not used). What year blocks still have this provision?

2) Do performance replacement magnum roller cams have oiling holes drilled in the appropriate journals to allow for through-head oiling?

3) Do cam bearings for LA 360s work in a 5.9 mag block?

Thanks!
 
some early blocks do or you can drill, there are fixtures available and perhaps the forum members know who owns them
however feeding the shafts from the ends from the back of the block works
I also suggest through the pushrod oiling be kept for the pushrod/ rocker socket

I would doubt it off the shelf but that core should be available or any could be drilled, contact your camgrinder of choice
several core choices- fuel pump lobe, short vs long etc
3 yes
 
Or use the magnum roller block and la heads to utilize the oil through the head to the shaft mounts.
 
Or use the magnum roller block and la heads to utilize the oil through the head to the shaft mounts.

This doesn't make sense to me. I want to use a roller block with LA heads. I'm curious what magnum roller blocks are drilled for shaft rocker oiling.
 
This doesn't make sense to me. I want to use a roller block with LA heads. I'm curious what magnum roller blocks are drilled for shaft rocker oiling.
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The LA roller blocks were from 88 through 92. These were the motors that had the roller cam with the 308 LA heads. They had special length pushrods to use the roller hydraulic and the stamped steel shaft Mount rocker arms.
Now starting in 93 they had the magnums. These motors had the Magnum heads on them. But some of the blocks were cast like they were from the LA roller Motors.
So my understanding is some of the 93 through 96 blocks had the hole already drilled for oiling L A heads.
 
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The LA roller blocks were from 88 through 93. These were the motors that had the roller cam with the 308 LA heads. They had special length pushrods to use the roller hydraulic and the stamped steel shaft Mount rocker arms.
Now starting in 94 they had the magnums. These motors had the Magnum heads on them. But some of the blocks were cast like they were from the LA roller Motors.
So my understanding is some of the 94 through 96 blocks had the hole already drilled for oiling L A heads.

Oh, that's what he meant. I was aware that the later 360s had roller lifters - his post just wasn't clear to me. I've been on the look out for one for a 408 build, but wanted to know what 5.9 block would work to expand my range of blocks to looks for. I appreciate it! 94-96!
 
The 88-92 was a long snout cam with the oiling holes in the number two and the number four cam journal.

The difference in the short block of the early roller Motors and the magnums was that the Magnums had lighter rotating assemblys.
That's why the balance is different between the early 360s and the Magnum 360 s or 5.9 whatever you want to call them.
 
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Eh, I used a magnum block and literally LA EVERYTHING (including stroker kit), just had to modify my heads to feed oil for the shaft rockers...
 
So there's no confusion some not all of the 93 and up may already have the oil passage drilled.
 
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I'm pretty sure it was more of a cutoff after a certain year, I thiiink 1995 or '96? I recall a member mentioning building a 5.9 Magnum block that was a 1995 and it had the oiling holes, he was able to use LA heads pretty much bolt-on.
 
I think I'm gonna go to the pick n pull yard today and check out a 1990 ram van and pull the manifold. Maybe a head. See what I can find. I would think the late LA blocks with the roller cam and through the head rocker oiling would be a good block to build for a solid roller motor. But I don't know. Correct me if I'm wrong
 
I think I'm gonna go to the pick n pull yard today and check out a 1990 ram van and pull the manifold. Maybe a head. See what I can find. I would think the late LA blocks with the roller cam and through the head rocker oiling would be a good block to build for a solid roller motor. But I don't know. Correct me if I'm wrong
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A 90 is a LA roller motor. It should be perfect for you.
 
Accident.

Where are the oil holes at? I've got a '94 5.9 block on a stand. And I should be getting my '95 5.9 back from the machine shop next week.

Look at the valley, there is a ~1/2"-wide channel cast in there--one on each bank--going from the cam tunnel up to the deck. The oil feed hole for the LA rockers will start on the deck where that channel casting ends. I don't have a pic but the hole is between some coolant passages IIRC, on the top part of the deck between the front two cylinders on one bank and the back two on the other.
 
Here you go, got this from a random web pic and circled the parts in red...

download_oiling passage.jpg
 
Here you go, got this from a random web pic and circled the parts in red...

View attachment 1715287211
So do the later blocks without the oil holes NOT have those 1/2” cast tunnels in the valley? I’ve never taken the heads off my 5.9 to see if the oil holes are there, but it appears to have the cast tunnels (pic from several years ago). Speedmaster STILL doesn’t have their stainless rockers (oil through pushrod style) in stock. Could buy prw’s but they’re twice the price. If the oil holes are there, I can buy any LA rockers.

B5511EEB-891A-4ADC-882F-003E62CFB89A.jpeg
 
Dang it. Looks like they have the cast tunnel regardless if they’re drilled or not…

33B8DAFD-083E-4D02-9FE3-A6BA079FDBF9.jpeg
 
^^That's right otherwise you could not drill them^^
 
So do the later blocks without the oil holes NOT have those 1/2” cast tunnels in the valley? I’ve never taken the heads off my 5.9 to see if the oil holes are there, but it appears to have the cast tunnels (pic from several years ago). Speedmaster STILL doesn’t have their stainless rockers (oil through pushrod style) in stock. Could buy prw’s but they’re twice the price. If the oil holes are there, I can buy any LA rockers.

View attachment 1715802270

Regardless of the rockers you go with I'd highly recommend hitting up @B3RE B3 Racing Engines to get a valvetrain geometry correction kit, especially if you are using a roller cam. He sells PRW rockers btw. You will also likely need to clearance the pushrod holes in the heads a decent amount if using a roller cam combined with aftermarket rockers because the pushrod angle is different than with flat tappets.
 
So I found this, my 5.9 is from a ‘96 truck and has the 53020006 casting number, so HOPEFULLY it has the oil holes in the block. And since I’ll be going with a different cam, I’ll just have to make sure I get one with the oil holes.

754D4F5D-AC01-4CEE-A6AA-D3877787B3B1.jpeg
 
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