Sanity check: Are Dodge/Jeep 360 blocks the same?

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Cuda416

Cuda416

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In my low priority search for an 88-92 roller pre-mag 360 it occurred to me I might be able to pull one from a jeep of the appropriate year. I know external things are different (starter, manifolds, accessory locations etc) but are the blocks the same?
 
Oldmanmopar said:
no
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Huh? Yes they are. All LA blocks are the same, with exception to the later roller blocks that had provisions for roller cam stuff. And then magnums we’re all the same wether installed in dodges or jeeps.
 
TT5.9mag said:
Huh? Yes they are. All LA blocks are the same, with exception to the later roller blocks that had provisions for roller cam stuff. And then magnums we’re all the same wether installed in dodges or jeeps.
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I thought as much but I'm always willing be told I'm wrong so if @Oldmanmopar has additional info I'd like to hear that too.
 
For interest of this conversation, jeep used three mopar V8s. The LA 360 and the magnum 360, and 318. That is all.
 
Cuda416 said:
Thanks @TT5.9mag , just to pound this into the dirt, that includes the pre-mag LA?
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If you’re speaking about the later roller LA block that had a run from (I think) 89-93 then no. Jeep didn’t used that engine.
 
OMM might be thinking of the AMC 360 which was in production until the early 90's

it was used in J-series trucks from early 70's until 86~87 and wagoneers until mid 80s' (like 84~85) as well as the cherokee. i think the full size grand wagoneer got them all the way till 91 until switching to the magnum.

it's an easy tell, the restribuitor of sparklage is in the front and canted at an angle.
 
junkyardhero said:
OMM might be thinking of the AMC 360 which was in production until the early 90's

it was used in J-series trucks from early 70's until 86~87 and wagoneers until mid 80s' (like 84~85) as well as the cherokee. i think the full size grand wagoneer got them all the way till 91 until switching to the magnum.

it's an easy tell, the restribuitor of sparklage is in the front and canted at an angle.
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And is an AMC
 
junkyardhero said:
OMM might be thinking of the AMC 360 which was in production until the early 90's

it was used in J-series trucks from early 70's until 86~87 and wagoneers until mid 80s' (like 84~85) as well as the cherokee. i think the full size grand wagoneer got them all the way till 91 until switching to the magnum.

it's an easy tell, the restribuitor of sparklage is in the front and canted at an angle.
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That makes sense I hadn't considered the AMC 360 and would certainly explain OMM's answer.
 
Your head will shrink or beetlejuice will show up.
 
Cuda416 said:
In my low priority search for an 88-92 roller pre-mag 360 it occurred to me I might be able to pull one from a jeep of the appropriate year. I know external things are different (starter, manifolds, accessory locations etc) but are the blocks the same?
Click to expand...
OK hear me out. I have a 1990 Roller LA 360 out of a wrecked Ramcharger that's in my Duster for now, I did some research into the roller LA's and Magnums awhile back.
From what I can tell Jeeps never had the roller LA, they all had Magnums from 1993 on.
The regular (XJ) Cherokee's and Wranglers only had the venerable 4.0L straight six (saw many of those engine go past 300,000 miles with no issues) as the biggest motor option. (we don't EVER mention the GM 2.8L V6 they put in the early XJ's)
The (ZJ) Jeep Grand Cherokees didn't come out until 1993, by then LA Rollers were phased out and they started using Magnums (but only the 318 for Jeeps), the 360 magnum option for the Grand Cherokee's didn't come out until 1998. The 4.0L were still the standard motor for this platform.
You had the (SJ) Wagoneers that were out until 1991, as mentioned above in it had the AMC 360. (AMC 401 and the 4.0L's precursor the 258 straight 6 were the other AMC engine options offered throughout the years)
And yes Roller LA's did appear as early as around 1985 but only on 318's. As for the roller LA-360's the absolute earliest I've seen them was on a late 1988 Dodge Ram Van (build date 05/88), and yes it was the original engine.
Viable sources for the Roller LA-360 are usually Rams, Van's and Ramchargers from 1989 (maybe 'some' 88's)* model year to 1993. Also the occasional "let's put a 360 in a Dakota or M-Body" project.

Also note (but not related to your question): M-bodies, 2WD Dakotas & some vans are also great sources for the A999/A998 transmissions.

*Emphasis on the some, when I used to go to the salvage yards regularly from what I've seen on late 1988 model years they will have both, but the roller LA360 seems to be more rare.
 
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Cuprum-74 said:
OK hear me out. I have a 1990 Roller LA 360 out of a wrecked Ramcharger that's in my Duster for now, I did some research into the roller LA's and Magnums awhile back.
From what I can tell Jeeps never had the roller LA, they all had Magnums from 1993 on.
The regular (XJ) Cherokee's and Wranglers only had the venerable 4.0L straight six (saw many of those engine go past 300,000 miles with no issues) as the biggest motor option. (we don't EVER mention the GM 2.8L V6 they put in the early XJ's)
The (ZJ) Jeep Grand Cherokees didn't come out until 1993, by then LA Rollers were phased out and they started using Magnums (but only the 318 for Jeeps), the 360 magnum option for the Grand Cherokee's didn't come out until 1998. The 4.0L were still the standard motor for this platform.
You had the (SJ) Wagoneers that were out until 1991, as mentioned above in it had the AMC 360. (AMC 401 and the 4.0L's precursor the 258 straight 6 were the other AMC engine options offered throughout the years)
And yes Roller LA's did appear as early as around 1985 but only on 318's. As for the roller LA-360's the absolute earliest I've seen them was on a late 1988 Dodge Ram Van (build date 05/88), and yes it was the original engine.
Viable sources for the Roller LA-360 are usually Rams, Van's and Ramchargers from 1989 (maybe 'some' 88's)* model year to 1993. Also the occasional "let's put a 360 in a Dakota or M-Body" project.

Also note (but not related to your question): M-bodies, 2WD Dakotas & some vans are also great sources for the A999/A998 transmissions.

*Emphasis on the some, when I used to go to the salvage yards regularly from what I've seen on late 1988 model years they will have both, but the roller LA360 seems to be more rare.
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All good info so thanks. The general thing I was missing was forgetting about the AMC 360 so when I saw a wagoneer in the local wrecking yard inventory and it had a 5.9 it got me thinking. Wrong version though so it's a non-starter. I'm glad I asked here before wasting my time.

Way more productive wasting everyone else's time :poke:

In all seriousness I always feel pretty blessed to have such a collection of people willing to share what they know.
 
Cuda416 said:
All good info so thanks. The general thing I was missing was forgetting about the AMC 360 so when I saw a wagoneer in the local wrecking yard inventory and it had a 5.9 it got me thinking. Wrong version though so it's a non-starter. I'm glad I asked here before wasting my time.

Way more productive wasting everyone else's time :poke:

In all seriousness I always feel pretty blessed to have such a collection of people willing to share what they know.
Click to expand...
Yeah I used to be into Jeeps in the early 2000's, especially the old XJ's and TJ's.
I also played around with Dodge Rams a lot starting in the 90's. I owned a 1984 Ramcharger, 1983 Dodge Ram W150, and a 1989 Ram W100.
All sadly gone.
I really miss the 1983 Ram I had, until some fat Momma the Hutt and her POS minivan ran the light and T-boned my truck. I do plan on getting another one, preferably with a manual, 4WD is a must here.

My old 1983 Dodge Ram W150.jpg
 
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