Whats years are best for LA 360's

All ironheads crack sooner or later and 99% of the time, you'll never know there cracked. Thats the bottom line. OH! And a fact.

The best 360 is the one that sonic checks good. But since your on a less than Road Kill budget....

The Magnum headed 5.9 (AKA - 360) is a excellent unit to start with. The F.I. set up Chrysler uses normally shows almost no wear worthy of print in the cylinder bores. Lower the mileage the better of course. I took a '00 5.9 and opened it up to find cross hatch marks with 75,000 on the clock.

Magnum engine draw backs?

Different external balance than the 360. No mechanical fuel pump boss. Can not use "LA" heads so quickly. Limited Magnum intake selection. (But the current offerings are excellent and probably won't leave you wanting for power since between the MP M-1 single plane and the Edelbrock RPM, it pretty much covers all the bases except blinding fast and ultra frugal.) But all of that can be changed with money.
I used a B&M flex plate to mate to my early 70's 727. The stock Magnum 5.9 should be purchased with the flex plate. It is what you want and need.

Pre Magnum 360's are also excellent choices since there also a roller cam engine like a Magnum. Draw back; Older engines tend to have higher miles. Earlier F.I. engines are also very good on the wear factor, but, the early F.I. may not be so good to the engine like the more modern one is. Most V8's of this error/series were used in vans & trucks.

Early "LA"n While probably the best interim of cheap parts, these do require some attention that may cost. IF you canget a low mileage rebuilt engine out of a project car forgotten about or no longer wanted, these would be just fine for a multitude of power levels and duties.

No matter the engine series selected, the heads ability of which you show concern about is addressed best with 2 items to help out and the power of the engine along. Headers (With free flowing exhaust) and a proper camshaft!