Cracks between head bolts and coolant passages

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I'd been looking for a 360, but the cheapest I can get one around here (whether built myself or buying complete) is 2k-3k. Even 318s are several hundred for a block.
That's worth crossing a couple of state lines for something somewhere else. The location thing can sometimes make a big difference. But you've found that out. Try posting a wanted ad in our classified section. There's a member within driving distance that has something. I'd lay money on it.
 
I'd been looking for a 360, but the cheapest I can get one around here (whether built myself or buying complete) is 2k-3k. Even 318s are several hundred for a block.
Hopefully not another who disses a 318 because it's a 318...
 
I've gone 1,000mi for a car in the dead of winter, but parts is different, lol.

I talked to the guy, I'll probably be going up there today.
This summer we were camping in Ohio (I live in Illinois) and I spent the Saturday of that weekend cris crossing Ohio for D150 parts that nobody around here seems to have.
Last December I took a day trip to Iowa (and I live much closer to the Indiana side) for more D150 parts. (And got a camera speeding ticket to show for it from somewhere in cedar falls)
4 years ago we made a vacation of a trip to Savannah GA and came home with a trailer load plus the back of a Durango full of D150 parts mostly sheet metal.

And "2 hours away" is relative.
If I go 2 hours north I don't get very far. If I go 2 hours away any other direction I get lots more miles away from home
Last month I went 2 hours east to the dead middle of Indiana and brought home a better cab for my truck. So GO!
 
Ya know, since the block is scrap anyway, couldn’t a guy install head studs, with some JB Weld?

If the heads are good, might be an interesting experiment, unless I haven’t thought of something obvious.
 
2 1/2 hrs? I will be driving from Boston to Geogia for some parts in December.:steering::wtf:
Unless someone is coming up my way from Alanta?
 
All 5 of the blocks I've found in a 400mi radius have the same cracks, so I'm really not sure what to do here, lol. Machine shop I called says its fine, use thread sealer.
 

Those blocks are garbage. Thread sealer does zero for the clamp load of the cracked hole. Go to your local scrapyard and buy a $300 magnum 5.2. Way better block, you could use your LA heads on it as well
 
Those blocks are garbage. Thread sealer does zero for the clamp load of the cracked hole. Go to your local scrapyard and buy a $300 magnum 5.2. Way better block, you could use your LA heads on it as well
Wait, I thought they weren't interchangeable? I also done want fuel injection and all the extra clutter that comes with a magnum. I guess I don't know as much about those.
 
Wait, I thought they weren't interchangeable? I also done want fuel injection and all the extra clutter that comes with a magnum. I guess I don't know as much about those.
LA heads will bolt right on a Magnum block and vice versa. If you luck into a 5.2 block, you can bolt on your choice of LA heads, still be able to reap the benefits of the hydraulic roller lifters in a Magnum and have plenty of good choices of LA intakes. You will need to use custom pushrods for oiling the rockers, but that's no biggie. 5.2 Magnum rotating assembly is internally balanced like a 318, but a 5.9 Magnum is externally balanced....and much different than an LA 360. You would just need a 5.9 Flex plate or flywheel if you go with a 5.9. Most any 5.2 or 5.9 Magnum you buy out of a truck or van will still have crosshatch showing in the cylinders, so that is a plus.
 
LA heads will bolt right on a Magnum block and vice versa. If you luck into a 5.2 block, you can bolt on your choice of LA heads, still be able to reap the benefits of the hydraulic roller lifters in a Magnum and have plenty of good choices of LA intakes. You will need to use custom pushrods for oiling the rockers, but that's no biggie. 5.2 Magnum rotating assembly is internally balanced like a 318, but a 5.9 Magnum is externally balanced....and much different than an LA 360. You would just need a 5.9 Flex plate or flywheel if you go with a 5.9. Most any 5.2 or 5.9 Magnum you buy out of a truck or van will still have crosshatch showing in the cylinders, so that is a plus.
Wow, well this is news to me! So, if I'm understanding correctly, I could reuse my performer intake that was on my LA, get new pushrods, and return my cam/lifters to get another cam with hydraulic lifters?

I can find ~100,000mi 5.2 magnum engines complete for $500 around here, which is less than double just a 5.2LA block.
 
Wow, well this is news to me! So, if I'm understanding correctly, I could reuse my performer intake that was on my LA, get new pushrods, and return my cam/lifters to get another cam with hydraulic lifters?

I can find ~100,000mi 5.2 magnum engines complete for $500 around here, which is less than double just a 5.2LA block.
A much better too!
 
Those blocks are garbage. Thread sealer does zero for the clamp load of the cracked hole. Go to your local scrapyard and buy a $300 magnum 5.2. Way better block, you could use your LA heads on it as well
If he's oiling through AMC lifter/pushrod, will the hole in the stamped rocker provide enough lubrication to carry the rocker shaft too? Or are you referring to the early LA roller blocks?
 
If he's oiling through AMC lifter/pushrod, will the hole in the stamped rocker provide enough lubrication to carry the rocker shaft too? Or are you referring to the early LA roller blocks?
It's been a long time since I looked at a bone stock rocker, but if there is a oil hole in the pushrod cup, then yes, that would be sufficient to oil the rocker. The magnum allready has oil through pushrods, so he could even just reuse the magnum cam and lifters also.
 
Wow, well this is news to me! So, if I'm understanding correctly, I could reuse my performer intake that was on my LA, get new pushrods, and return my cam/lifters to get another cam with hydraulic lifters?

I can find ~100,000mi 5.2 magnum engines complete for $500 around here, which is less than double just a 5.2LA block.
Depends on which LA heads you use as to whether you use the Performer intake as is. If you decide to use aftermarket heads like Speedmaster, etc, you can use the Performer and just port match the intake ports to match the larger ports on the heads. Same holds true if you were to use 360 heads. If your existing 318 heads are not cracked and can be reworked with a valve job and surfacing, just bolt the Performer right back on as is. You will be miles ahead if you use the hydraulic roller lifters and cam from a 5.2. You could sell your flat tappet cam kit, or return it if they aren't going to charge you out the ying yang for a restocking fee. If you find a decent 5.2, you could send the cam that is in it to Oregon Cam Grinders and have it reground to a slightly more performance oriented version. You could clean and check the existing hydraulic roller lifters and reuse them as well. There are people on here that have done that very thing and can coach you thru it. I'm not so old that I've forgotten being 24 and on a tight budget.....so I get it, lol.
 
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