Hiho. My 318 LA Y vin code block cracked. The block I ended up with is a 1994 block out of who knows what. Question is are there significant differences between the Y vin block and the non Y vin code block

 

Yes, the magnum engines (92 and later) used a roller cam, and the lifter angle was different. Intake bolts were also at a different angle, and valve covers had 10 bolts instead of 5 or 6.... The rest, for the most part, is pretty much the same.

If the engine actually is out of your durango, then it should be magnum engine in any event.

 

My 2000 Durango had the 318 LA engine that dissolved from the inside out. The replacement I got is out of an unknown vehicle date coded for 1994. I discovered my engine had .030 over pistons. Sad to see it go. I was wondering if the blocks were different because I'm having oil pressure issues after rebuilding the replacement engine

 

Oil pressure issues after rebuild could be several things .... did a shop rebuild it. or did you go through it and freshen it up?
I'm wondering who checked the crank journals for size and installed the correct size bearings?

A professional rebuilder would or should measure for correct size bearings and use plasti gauge to check one or two of them ...if they are too loose, you will have oil pressure problems.

It is possible when the crank was cast, there was a slight flaw and the factory turned the crank .010 to correct it ..... no big deal.
Then 20 years later Joe Blow comes along and slaps a new set of standard size bearings in it because the engine never saw a machine shop, never measures or checks and well .....you can see there would be a problem.
Even if the crank looked fine, it could have been wore and beyond tolerances when new bearings installed.

So who was in charge of installing the bearings?

 

Who put the LA engine in there, and how? Durango NEVER came with one.....

 

The LA engine was was primarily put in Durangos going to Canada. The numbers on the block translated to it being an LA engine. It was the engine in it when I got it in 2015. further research indicated the the LA and the Magnum engines were available.

 

I did the rebuild. At first it was looking to be head gasket/ head machining. After pressure washing I discovered the block was cracked. In comes a replacement block. the only internal parts from that engine the was used were the pistons as mine were .030 and to big. The crank, cam and the entire valve train came out of the original engine. Main bearings were done one at a time. The rod bearings as well as the pistons were also installed one at a time. My original engine never had a single oil pressure issue with 245,000 miles on the clock. That's why I was wondering about the differences in the blocks. A '94 vs '99. so at this point it goes away or the engine comes back out. Either option is not desired to put it mildly.

thanks for the reply

 

I wasn't aware dodge even MADE the LA engines post 1993..... I believe the industrial versions were still out there, but, those weren't rated to be installed in motor vehicles..... (emissions issues...)

I also see the engines referred to as "Magnum LA Engines"..... Which is NOT correct. The magnum engines superseded the LA variant, 5.2 came in 92, (along with the 3.9 I think.) 5.9 came in 93. After that, those engines weren't installed in anything in the US market I am aware of. Everything I am finding says the LA series engines ended when the magnum series came out. Take a close look at your engine, if you have the kegger manifold, and the intake bolts go straight down into the heads, and the valve covers have 10 bolts, that's a Magnum engine. If you are feeling really froggy, pull the intake, if there are roller lifters in there, thats a magnum engine.

 

I never did figure out why Canada was different and got "special engines"
Way back in the 1930's Dodge sent cars over there with the 25" long block. .... In USA the same vehicle got the 23" engine .... Anything going to Canada got the 25".
This was true all the way into the late 1950's .... No idea what they did after that ... Just saying Canada always got A different engine then what USA got.

 

I got nothin' for that. I didn't really get into the wrench turnin' think until the mid-late 70's.....