Any idea why some v8s are called magnum on the back of the truck and some are not? I'm pretty sure there is no difference, but you never know. I drove an slt yesterday just to feel how it drives, but I'm looking at a trx4 several hundred miles away that states it's a v8 "magnum". Thanks.

 

The "magnum" was a rename/upgrade of the LA small block along with the other engines that happened in 1992.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_LA_engine

 

What is strange though is that both trucks are '08. Why designate one as magnum and one as just v8?

 

Marketing.


http://powertechv8.com/

 

This. The last magnum in a Dakota was 02 I believe. After that they were all powertech. Just like when they redaged the 3rd gen as an r/t packagem lmao, there wasn't anything r/t about it. Or the rumble bee Dakota.

 

So I guess they just kept putting the magnum plate under v8 because they had several years worth left at the factory. And it sounds cool.

 

No, it was all for marketing to get yesterday's generation to buy a new truck with a name they're familiar with. The trucks that had real magnums in them have completely different badges then what third gens with powertech engines labeled "Magnum" do.