Mopar Small-Block Engines: How to Build Max Performance

Mopar Small-Block Engines: How to Build Max Performance

by Larry Shepard
Mopar Small-Block Engines: How to Build Max Performance

Mopar Small-Block Engines: How to Build Max Performance

by Larry Shepard

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Overview

Hit the horsepower goal of your Mopar small-block engine using this guide that identifies the best parts and techniques to extract maximum performance from LA and Magnum powerplants.

Mopar engine expert and author Larry Shepard covers heads, cams, and valvetrain products and modifications that will give you more power. In addition, he provides exquisite details and in-depth buildup instruction for other essential components: blocks, cranks, pistons, rods, ignition systems, intakes, carburetors, and exhaust.

The Chrysler LA-series and Magnum small-blocks are powerful, efficient, and quick-revving engines that have dutifully powered millions of Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth cars and trucks from 1964 to 2003. And the LA engine is also the powerplant for many classic Mopar muscle cars, including the Charger, Barracuda, Challenger, Dart, and others. While these venerable small-blocks have delivered impressive performance in stock trim, both can be easily modified to produce much greater power for almost any application.

The LA designates the small-block as "Lightweight A," which was a huge improvement over the previous generation. With its compact size, 50-pound weight savings, thin wall casting, and wedge heads, it cranked out a lot of torque and horsepower, so it was formidable competition on the street and track. The LA was offered in 273-, 318-, 340- and 360-ci inch iterations, and a full range of aftermarket products are offered for these engines. By 1992, the LA engine platform had evolved into the Magnum 5.2- and 5.9-liter engines and became the new standard of Mopar small-block performance.

If you own an LA small-block-powered Mopar car or truck, this invaluable guidance and instruction will allow you to optimize performance and maintain reliability.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781613255490
Publisher: Cartech
Publication date: 09/26/2016
Pages: 146
Product dimensions: 8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.31(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 4 Introduction 4 Chapter 1: Blocks 9 Block Design9 Identification10 Basic Features15 Block Oiling17 Motor Mounts18 Core Shift18 Machining19 Main Caps23 Special Features and Operations25 Chapter 2: Crankshafts and Connecting Rods 26 Production Cranks26 High-Performance Street Cranks28 Race Cranks29 Material29 Full-Radius Journals31 Crank Prep31 Bearings33 Vibration Dampeners33 Connecting Rods34 Chapter 3: Pistons and Rings 39 Production Pistons39 Aftermarket Pistons40 Piston Profile41 Compression Ratio42 Piston Design43 Piston Pins47 Piston Rings48 Chapter 4: Camshaft, Lifters and Cam Drive 51 Production Cams51 Aftermarket Cams52 Camshaft Technology53 High-Performance and Race Cams56 Cam Selection Process57 Cam Installation60 Tappets61 Cam Drive63 Timing Sets65 Oil Pump Drive65 Chapter 5: Cylinder Heads 66 Identification66 Production Cylinder Heads68 Head Spec Comparison71 Aluminum Heads73 Cast-Iron Heads75 Bare Heads76 Cylinder Head Selection and Prep76 High-Performance Valve Job79 Special Head Considerations81 Valves82 Head Gaskets85 Chapter 6: Valvetrain 86 Oiling System87 Pushrods88 Rocker Arms89 Valvesprings94 Valvetrain Parts97 Chapter 7: Intake Manifolds 98 Production Intakes98 Aftermarket Intakes101 Fuel Distribution103 Manifold Selection104 Manifold Prep105 Porting Matching105 Carburetors105 Throttle Body108 Fuel Pump108 Fuel Injection109 Nitrous109 Superchargers and Turbos109 Final Installation and Prep109 Chapter 8: Oiling System 110 Oiling Hardware110 Oil Pump112 Breathers and the PCV113 Oil113 Oil Filter114 Windage Tray114 Oil Pan114 Oil Pump Drive116 Dry Sump117 Chapter 9: Ignition System 118 Spark Advance118 Distributors119 Aftermarket Ignition Systems122 Advance Curve123 Ignition Timing123 Spark Plugs124 Distributor Drive125 Coil and Ballast Resistor125 The ECU/ECM125 Wiring126 Chapter 10: Fuel System and Tuning 127 4-Barrel Carb System127 Fuel Injection System128 Fuel128 Magnum MPI130 Fuel Injectors130 Fuel Lines130 Airflow131 Carb Tuning131 Magnum MPI Upgrade132 A-Engine MPI Conversion133 Nitrous Oxide133 Supercharger134 Chapter 11: Exhaust System 135 Manifold135 Header136 Flanges141 Merge Collectors141 Oxygen Sensor141 Installation Clearance141 Coatings141 Pipe Crossovers142 Mufflers and Catalytic Converters142 Cat-Back Systems143 Tailpipes143 Gaskets143 Source Guide 144
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