Ok, so I have a 1993 (I think, it's the first year the Magnum was an option) Magnum Block that I did a rebuild on and that was supposed to go into another truck that I once had. That truck is since gone and it's just been sitting on my porch unused. I'm thinking about buying an '87 8 foot Dakota off of a buddy of mine an was wondering if I could drop the heads on that engine. I have the entire engine at my disposal so if I needed an extra parts they are there. I'd like to keep the engine carb'ed but I was just wondering if any of this is actually possible. I tried doing some research online but got a few mixed answers. Any help and insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Joe

 

I own a 92 with 318 magnum .. anyway lol

The basic design of the LA engine would go unchanged through the development of the Magnum upgrade (1992-'93)

love how it says Magnum *UPGRADE* LOL but engine is unchanged

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysle...ine#Magnum_3.9 (V6)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysle...ine#Magnum_5.2 (V8)

assuming your talkign about the V6 since 87 didnt have the 8 cylinder as an option

 

Yes the 87' has a carb'ed 3.9l. My parts engine is a 3.9l magnum with fuel injection.

 

92 is the first year for the V6 and 5.2 Magnum. 93 first year of the 5.9 Magnum.

No it will not work. The oiling for the rockers and camshafts are different. http://www.allpar.com/mopar/318.html

The best option is to stick the entire Mangum engine in, for best MPG and HP stick with the electronic fuel injection.

 

Alright that's all I needed to know. Thankyou

 

Just an FYI, you could run the Magnum heads but, you would have to them drilled for the LA intake pattern. I know older Mopar guys who do this on the Darts and Dusters. There is some other parts involved. Anyways, here's a suggestion since you are an 87 and carburetor I would grab a 5.2 Magnum out a 92-01 truck, suv, or van, an Edelbrock Air Gap intake for the Magnum engines, Edelbrock 600 cfm (model 1406), and some Magnum exhaust manifolds 92-93 or run a set of cheap headers with an electric pump with a good electric fan. I think A-Body headers work on the Dakotas and you might need a different oil pan if you pull it from a Ram or Van.


You could run a 5.9 Magnum but, the transmission may not handle the extra torque and besides that you'll have to have a different flex plate and maybe converter and definintely different engine mounts.