Currently have a 1998 Ram 2500 with the 360 engine (Z vin) and the headgaskets blew and the heads are cracked bad after magnafluxing them. I suspect they were over heated.

Anywho,, I would like to purchase a set of NEW cylinder heads (complete with valves/springs/retainers) and would like to know what fits this motor? whats the difference between mine and a magnum?

Summit Racing has a listing for NEW Magnum cylinder heads for 94-01 360 engines and says they flow better then stock. they are $310 a piece and would like to know if these will work on my engine. or if there are better deals out there somewhere.

My machinist wants $697 to put my 145K miles valves/springs/retainers in some new castings but I'd rather have all new.

Thanks in advance for any help I can get as I'm new to the hole Mopar seen.

Brad M

 

is your 360 a Gasoline or diesel engine? It may seem like a stupid question but both the I-6 diesel and V-8 gasoline were available in the 2500 in 1998

 

the cracked heads are a common problem with the v8's. the ones from summit are supposedly the same as what you have on there. (that was my conclusion when head shopping last spring). You can get the R/T head with all new valves springs etc for $1250 from mopartsracing http://www.mopartsracing.com./parts/ram.html this is where I got mine. bolt on out of the box. just beware that you'll need to seal the end exhaust manifold bolt holes when you bolt up your exhaust.

I also highly recommend getting an ARP head bolt kit to replace the head bolts you have. I had a head gasket failure that I concluded was from fatigued had bolts that were torqued down 1 to many times. $70 bux from summit racing, torqued down to 85 ft lbs dipped in 30 wt oil on the threads...

 

OK this may be a stupid question but is my engine a Magnum or Non-Magnum? and to answer the question about its a GAS engine.

I like the sound of the R/T heads but $1250 is outa my range let alone the $650 for some new stock heads.

I also already purchased new headbolts, not ARP but atleast there new. and I thought torque was 105ftlbs according to the manual??? only aluminum heads get 85ftlbs

Or if you use 30wt you goto 105ft and if you were to use ARP's assembly lube then torque to 85ftlbs.

 

stock bolts get 105, arps get 80~85 w/the 30 wt oil. even less with their moly lube. Took a good explanation and some research to get that sorted out. mine are set at 85 now for 4~5k miles w/o any problems.

you have a magnum engine btw...

 

R/T HEADS!!!!!!!R/T HEADS!!!!!!!R/T HEADS!!!!!!!R/T HEADS!!!!!!!R/T HEADS!!!!!!!R/T HEADS!!!!!!!R/T HEADS!!!!!!!

them are on my crhistmass list

 

another option if $ is tight would be to get the bare castings and build them with stock parts. mine came with SS valve & HP springs