What do you think fellas......should I keep the original 318 out of my 68 or should I rebuild a magnum 318 out of an early 90's truck. The magnum will be free to own for me but it will need rebuilt and my la318 is currently running and doin good......
I have been told that the magnum will be a more powerful and reliable engine but its not original or age appropriate.....
now granted a sweptline is not exactly a collector car unless you are one of us but the extra power and reliability and mileage would be nice
Would it be blasphemy to do such a swap?
Last edited by facechicken on Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Its your truck man, do what you would like.that being said i see nothing wrong with a more modern engine. Heck i even contemplated another brand cuz it was a smokin deal but in the end didnt get it
However, you could just put the magnum heads on your existing vintage 318. That's what I would do - if your current motor is tight and has a good bottom end.
Put the magnum heads on with a magnum-style carb intake and call it a day.
Remember the Magnum is a 2 bbl equivelant Computor Monitored
318 ( 5.2 ) that has heads that flow, Exhaust Manifolds - Exhaust
System that complete the flowing and the cam spec's are for starting
low end torque to mid-range usage.
Every engine has the "Clutch" Fan Drive and a Forced Cold Air Induction
to aid the power.
Knowing what and how to get for your 1968 LA-318 can make it power
enhanced beyond what MoPar did in 1968. Allof this can be done so it
idles as a 1968 318 and gets a better MPG while you are having fun.
I would add the magnum heads to your 318, I'm kind of weird but it's sort of neat to have the original block in your truck, even though they aren't big buck vehicles. Check the heads carefully for cracks as they were prone to cracking. You will need AMC style lifters and pushrods that run oil to the rocker gear as well as an aftermarket intake.
I had a factory 318 Magnum truck and it ran almost as hard as a 340, they were a very efficient setup, much better than the LA.
but the extra power and reliability and mileage would be nice
