LA / Magnum blocks
Fuxk! 2nd time replying. Freakin phone blinked and I lost everything. Ugh!
Magnum he says. I’m taking up the otherwise point of view ….
There are some advantages you listed that are NOT!
Superior pan and valve cover gasket
I do like the oil pan gasket but the valve cover gasket, no advantage. I’ve NEVER had any problems with LA valve cover gaskets.
better factory machining
Marginal and debatable
Hyperuetetic pistons
Not always a plus but I like them. Just because there a hyper slug doesn’t afford any meaningful advantage
Metric rings
Zero at the bolt on go fast parts and a cam
Lighter rotating mass
Same as above
Heads as Good as any stock 340
Show me the numbers! The heads are good for what they are.
1.6 rocker arms
There only advantage is when you use them on a cam designed for a 1.5 or lower rocker ratio for the increased rate of lift and overall lift
Factory roller camshaft
The factory cam is a broom stick falling on its face at 4500. The only advantage is you can reuse the roller lifters on the new cam. So, the price of the new roller cam vs the new price of a LA cam & lifters is….
More compact, more overall engine compartment room
I don’t see this as an advantage at all since LA V8’s were in, IIRC, every car Chrysler produced. The P/S pump gets into the battery space requiring the search and obtaining a van P/S bracket. This is not always so easy for everyone across the country.
Dead end bolt toles, not water leaking problems like LA
ETC
I don’t know what etc. implies, but if the factory LA heads end studs are in good shape, they should not leak water ever. If they do, there not in good shape. A small caveat.
How many LA engines have you seen with 100k plus miles that have factory hone marks and almost no cylinder ridge
Zero Credit the FI & computer system for that.
Comlete motor trans bracket pulleys etc.
$359-600
Not where I was from! 5.9’s start @ 1K which do not include the accessories or there brackets on the engine or computer. Just the water pump.
