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Magnum accesories and serpentine belt on LA Engine

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Mopardude

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Will the accessory brackets and serpentine belt setup from a magnum engine be swapped to a LA engine?
 
Have tought about this kind of upgrade might be a cool setup. All i know is tHat the magnum water pump run the other way .. Timing cover pulley damper must be swapped as well. but dont know about the accessory brackets power steering and AC will be a direct bolt on?.. Because magnum is an evolution of the LA it... might fit. Who knows?
 
I hadn't thought about it but that's an idea, I really don't like v belts in comparison. I bought a kit from SD Concepts and converted the Charger but since 318's and 360's were around long enough to come factory with them I don't see why not.
 
dodgefred said:
Have tought about this kind of upgrade might be a cool setup. All i know is tHat the magnum water pump run the other way .. Timing cover pulley damper must be swapped as well. but dont know about the accessory brackets power steering and AC will be a direct bolt on?.. Because magnum is an evolution of the LA it... might fit. Who knows?
Click to expand...
The kit I put on the Charger spins the water pump backwards, I bought a pump with an anticavitation plate and haven't had any issues. I'd think in this case you'd just use the modern pump?
 
Yea that is what I am trying to figure out here. Swapping a 360 into a Dakota that has a 5.2 in it right now. Trying to figure out if I can run the steering off an older pump or do the accessory bracket swap. I figure the water pump and timing chain would be the draw back of trying to do such a swap. Just don't know if its a prefect swap or not of if one little thing is different that would be an issue. Plus the 360 I have has a high flow pump on it so I am a little hesitant to changing it out. Runs pretty cool no matter how hard I pushed it.
 
From what I have been told it works. Just got to decide what to do with the PS pump. And check crank pulley.
 
I thought I read about this once and you have to swap the front cover out. Would be a nice swap if it works, I am not big on v-belts anymore
 
Front cover only needs to be changed to support the serpentine belt accessories and reversed water pump. So far have found no downside other than possibley the PS pump.
 
What about swapping a van or GD CHEROKEE power steering? will be easier.... different brackets higher position...
 
power steering pump on zj is higher on right side.

magnum 318.jpg
 
Its got to mate with the D350 steering gear. The 4500 lb. front axle reqiuires some larger line fitting. The right PS pump maybe the hardest part of this.
 
Had no problems with the power steering same fittings so swapped the power steering hoses for new ones which are longer .
 
Even going from the D150 to the D350 hose fitting were a different size. I have both pumps. Will just have to take some measurements.
 
If you change from an LA timing cover to a Magnum you are going to lose the ability to have a mechanical fuel pump. There is no provision for one on the Magnum cover.
 
Fuel injection has been in the works for a long time. The loss of pump mounting will not be missed. The only parts missing for the change is the proper wire harness, maybe fuel pump and regulator.
 
You guys bring up some interesting points I didn't even consider. What I just may end up doing is just leaving the 5.2 in it for now. Let me give you a more complete picture of what i have going on here. I have a 99 Dakota 4x4 chassis. I have stripped it all down and I am about ready to put my 42 dodge truck body onto it. This project has been a slow one for me. I would love to just get this thing to be able to roll under its own power by the end of summer so I can move it in and out of the garage easier so I can actually work on it in the winter months when I have more time. Has anyone ever seen schematics on how to rewire a magnum engine to run on the minimum electronics required for it to run? I have the complete wiring harness and electronics but I didn't keep any of the dash cluster electronics. I can break this question off into another thread if it would be more helpful.
 
You will probably have to find the Chrysler powertrain diagnostic manual to sort it out. Then decide what functions you can live without seeing or which you need to adapt.
I am just going from carb to throttle body 88-92. Only thing missing in the 82 dash will be a check engine light. That will depend upon what can be found for doner parts.
 
So from my own research I guess I need a pre ODBII computer and wiring harness for the engine to go that route.

If I wanted to use a PS steering pump from a LA engine could I get adapter fittings to make it work?

If I went the route of the serpentine belt setup from a magnum onto my LA engine and I deleted the air conditioning pump from it. Is there a idler pulley that takes its place? Pics would be appreciated so I can see how it should be.
 
Thats nice to know. I am planning on using every thing. A/C compressor allready has the 134 fitting, seals and the oil has been purchased for the conversion. Hoses and drier will wait till ready.
 
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