Just get a good set of cast heads and have some mild port work done to them, if you dig around on the web you will find that they can support up to 500hp with a little work. Or do you really want to drop $2000 on aluminum heads and all the needed parts to go with them? Aluminum heads on a 4wd street truck geezzz. There are plenty of Aluminum heads for the LA 360 but for the Magnum not so much.

 

The rest of us have talked if you won't listen to some of us then listen to Merc. He knows what he is talking about.

 

Ok I tried reading from page one. High stall tq and no cam??? new heads? burns oil. Have you done a comp test, I hope so. What are the numbers? What's the oil psi reading?

These are basic tests to be done before you buy a used motor.

Start with the common stuff first, t chain, basic heads, cam, bearing, seals/gaskets possible short block rebuild with a 365 kit.

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...rformance.html

Read this Merc it is what started it.

 

I bought my whole 97 Extended cab Ram 4x4 360 Sport for $300 running and drove it out of the people's yard home!. The same truck in my avatar! Do you hate me yet???? lol

Anyway I'm sure you could find a Magnum 360 off of craigslist all day for $100-$200 running!. I see them all the time. They are such great durable engines I'd just put a new oil pump & pump tube in as well as plenum gasket change and call it a day then slap it in if you find a craigslist motor cheap.

 

Sorry guys I've been busy and haven't had time to respond. I've bee taking everybody's advice, so thanks to you all.

-Merc, I didn't think to check the compression on the motor and the dash was tore apart and didn't work so oil pressure, I dunno about. I'm a rookie with rebuilding an engine. For now in the rebuild is a diff. cam, new stock heads (if the old ones are in bad condition), and plenum fix. Everything else will stay stock condition. Anybody disagree?

 

If you have the scratch, just replace the heads with some better ones. There are thicker castings available from many sources, they are much less prone to cracking.

 

Ok, asking here but they won't say thicker castings will they?. What will be the thickness? Will there be measurements?

 

Usually they talk about it in the item description. Yes, it is a VERY common problem, and rather well known. All the EBay heads that specify "New", generally state that they are "Heavier" castings. Also on the manufactures sites, same thing.

Do not get 'rebuilt', or 'remanufactured' heads. Those still have the same problems. They must be New.

 

K thanks for the info HeyYou