The LA style engine were produced up until, I think... 92 or 93. They were flat hydraulic tappet, as opposed to the rollers on the magnum engines. Lifter angle also changed in the block, valve train oiling was completely different...... and valve covers went from five bolts, to ten.... intake manifold bolt angle also changed. You can put older heads on a newer engine, but, there is a bunch of other work you would have to do as well, which I don't have complete list of..... In my opinion, not worth the hassle.

 

To OP.....first, the guys at the auto parts stores most liklely are not very well versed on these or any other engines. You will find more expretise here. Parts guys USED to be gearheads...but not any more.

Also to locate a prior thread you started, you can go back to your profile and find any thread you started.....just so you know next time.

When you were doing wet test, were you running the engine? Also may want to pull valve covers and look at springs. One response here indicated that another member had a broken valcve spring - I think on his #2 cylinder. That is easy and cheap check that you can do to verify that your problem may or may not be this simple!

Good luck.

 

Hey You, Thanks for the explanation. It helped.

gdstock, Thanks. I am still new to the forum and appreciate all the help.

I made the mistake of trying to do a wet test on a cold engine and it went crazy from there in terms of numbers so I just decided I would let it set over night. I was thinking today about removing the valve cover on that side for tow reasons. 1) was to check for water up there and 2) is too look at the springs as well since it was mentioned on here. I thought today was going to be good but it may be tomorrow. I will update you what I find. If theres a way to post pictures. let me know and I will take pictures of what I see. that may help you guys better than my explaining does.lol Thanks again

 

There should be a sticky on uploading photos - but there isn't......(hint, hint mods!)

To upload photos, save them on your computer. Go to www.photobucket.com and create a free account. Upload the photos to an album you create. When the photo is uploaded, look to the right where there are a number of links. Go to the IMG link and right click on the link and it copies the link automatically. Paste that into your post and majic happens!

 

Back home, there's a little shop in the little town of Black Diamond, called Black Diamond Auto Parts (creative I know). They were the guys to go to. I always drove the extra distance to go to them. They know their stuff better than the morons behind the counters of all the franchise shops, shoot, they don't even have a computer in the shop! I needed a new alternator for my Power Wagon when I went home last Christmas on leave, and Dennis immediately recognized me (after 8 months) and asked how the Air Force was treating me. He also gives me a discount just because he likes me. They always seem to have the parts that no one else does, since they like old American stuff. When I needed wheel bearings for my (very oddball) front axle in my truck, the parts books didn't show anything for my particular axle, yet I walked out of there with the parts I needed, because Dennis was smart enough to know where things are, and what to look for to mix and match things together and make something fit. It's too bad there aren't more places like that around.

 

standard dodge problem check the intake to head gasket what you are talking about is the gasket problem. dodge had different material in the gaskets. look to see if you have oil between plentum and the head. take the throttle body off and look in with a light or a scope if you have oil Problem

 

Thanks, I have photo bucket so thats good. I know then how to post pictures. cool

I dont have a oil problem. lol the smoke was due to me not doing the wet test correctly.

I think once I remove the valave cover. maybe that might move things forward.

 

I got the valve covers off today. Thers no water up there at all I can see. They do look nasty dirty but nothing out of the normal but I did notice a lots of the bolts weren't tight. I never thought about them coming loose. I am going to pressure wash the covers real good and get them as close to clean as possible. Thats one thing good about having a pressure washer.












I hope the pictures come out good and you can at least see what I am seeing. They look fine with no water and the springs look fine. Im thinking that once the head gasket is fixed, I should see good compression. Tell me what you see other than nasty valve covers.

 

I had to de new reply to move back up to where you can see my pictures. Thanks

 

Well, I see rockers and valvesprings