Magnum Adventure

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Now that I have the cylinder cleaned up some I can feel concentric waves in the cylinder walls. This is looking more and more like this project is going to die. Nothing like spending money and having nothing to show for it. Comp Cams refuses to respond about the cam they ground to the wrong specs.
 
I had a similar experience with the 460 I bought and ended up completely rebuilding. I will say its nice when its done fresh and correct the first time.

It may not be as bad as it looks, get block and heads check out. Best case they are good and you can hone, re-ring, and just clean up the heads, worst case new heads, a bore, balance, and new pistons/rings. If the 360 in your car now is OK, just take your time and get it done when you can.
 
dano said:
I had a similar experience with the 460 I bought and ended up completely rebuilding. I will say its nice when its done fresh and correct the first time.

It may not be as bad as it looks, get block and heads check out. Best case they are good and you can hone, re-ring, and just clean up the heads, worst case new heads, a bore, balance, and new pistons/rings. If the 360 in your car now is OK, just take your time and get it done when you can.
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Do like I did and build a turbocharged slant six..... you'll have so many problems you'll forget all about that 360...:banghead:
 
You could dingle ball that one hole, ring it, and live with the one weak cyl that burns oil..lol...

Bore gauge the others and determine if u can sleave/hone the one hole and just touch the others with the hone and new rings. The cheaper than new pistons and boring all 8.fwiw
 
The goo sitting in the engine ate up the cylinder walls. I doubt you could get any kind of compression with a cylinder wall that looks like this:
cylinder%2520wall05.jpg


The dark areas are pitted. This thing is begging for a bore job.
 
Honestly, if it were me I'd build what you have. Bore, balance, the works. So select a realistic budget and goal and build it.
 
Who make over sized pistons for the Magnum 360 (.030" or .040") with two valve reliefs like the KB107s and the stock ring widths 1.5mmx1.5mmx4.0mm?
 
sledger46 said:
Who make over sized pistons for the Magnum 360 (.030" or .040") with two valve reliefs like the KB107s and the stock ring widths 1.5mmx1.5mmx4.0mm?
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I'd measure it first to make sure its not a seasoned block, if it is the most you may be able to go is .010"
 
You might get away with a forged piston of the same bore as the ones you have due to the added clearance required by some of them.
 
I finally got a good valve spring compressor and began to dissassemble the heads. This is what I found when I popped the intake valve out of the head. This is on the same cylinder with the goo mess.
valve%2520goo02.jpg


The bowl can be cleaned up, but the seat looks sad. I honed the cylinder .002 over and it still looks like this:
002%2520over%2520cylinder.jpg


I am going to remove the rest of the valves and get the heads magnaflued to check for cracks.
 
Hopefully I can get the heads in to be magnafluxed this week and determine if they were a possible source.
 
Hey:

At least the head doesn't look cracked....

Sorry man.

You should be able to find a good usable 360 magnum block for less than the cost of going through that one.

What LSA is the cam supposed to be, vs what it is?

The magnum heads crack because they're induction hardened rather than having inserts like the other manufacturers do, and then they put them in gigantic heavy trucks-they're going to get hot.

The Durango I got my Magnum from was under 80K and both heads were cracked.
 
Both heads are cracked. There was a momment of silence (well except my sobbing) as we laid the heads to rest on top of the scrap heap behind the machine shop.

Cracked.jpg


The machinist thought the heads had more like 120K miles on them based on the exhaust valve seat width on several seats. But hey, look on the bright side bunkie. The machine shop only estimated $400-500 to machine the block. Then new pistons, rings, bearings, oil pump, and don't forget the new heads I will need.
*sigh*
 
DarTT said:
Sorry to hear my guess was correct. What's your plan of attack from here?
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Return the unopened items like oil pan and pickup to Summit Racing. Part out as much of this motor as possible and then move to another another short block and heads. Sell off the custom Comp roller cam 224/230 .513" on 110 LSA. Not sure what I am going to do with the stainless steel bolt kit for magnum engines I have.
 
If you're building a Magnum anyway, I wouldn't be in too big a hurry to sell that camshaft. It sounds like the cam in my car with less lift. If that's the case: It rocked.

The 110 lobe separation isn't going to cause too choppy an idle for street use if that's what you're worried about.

Look on car-part.com. You should be able to find a Magnum with less than 100K for pretty cheap money (with a warranty in case crap like this happens).

I was pretty disappointed with my cracked heads too, until I saw what those sub $1000 delivered Iron Ram heads do....
 
Hold up,
Have you check the Pick n Pulls in your state?
http://www.picknpull.com/check_inve...21.822098&Make=Dodge&Model=Van&Distance=25000

I just checked in Missouri and the pick pulls have ram vans that may have what you need. You can use your heads and block to get your core charge back and they do have 30 day exchange on parts.

You can get a long block for under $200. with core charge.

I looked at a map and I know they are not close to you but if you can scrimp enough for gas to get there and back you may have a complete engine for a couple hundred bucks.

I am sure there are other wrecking yards nearby that may have decent prices.

Or... try craigslist...http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/mo
I punched in 5.9 and saw people in Springfield selling 5.9 and 5.2 Magnum engines, maybe you can score an engine from a wrecked truck or van on the cheap!

Money is slowing me down on my projects now but I just try to work my way around it when I can.

Give it a shot. O:)

Mike

sledger46 said:
Return the unopened items like oil pan and pickup to Summit Racing. Part out as much of this motor as possible and then move to another another short block and heads. Sell off the custom Comp roller cam 224/230 .513" on 110 LSA. Not sure what I am going to do with the stainless steel bolt kit for magnum engines I have.
Click to expand...
 
Why start with a different used engine? Build the block you have, get some Engine Quest or MA-X heads and kick ***!
 
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