Chrysler LA engine
The
LA engine (
Late A engine) was an evolution of the
small-block Plymouth polyspheric-head A engine. It continues through this day in the form of the
Dodge Viper V10, 3.9 L
V6, 5.2 L and 5.9 L
V8. All LA engines are
pushrod OHV designs and use a 90° V block. The heads are
wedge-shaped, rather than the
polyspherical heads in the Plymouth A engine or the
hemispherical heads in the
Chrysler Hemi engine. All are cast iron, except for the Viper V10, which is aluminum. LA engines have same 4.46" bore spacing as the A family.
The LA family was rebranded as the
Magnum V6 and V8 in the
1990s. All but the
Viper and
Ram Tough V10s were replaced by the new
PowerTech V6 and V8 and
Hemi V8 in the early
2000s.
Production of the LA series was long handled by the
Mound Road Engine factory in
Detroit, Michigan. With most versions cancelled, that plant was closed in
2002.
The
LA 273 (4.5 L) was the first LA engine, debuting in
1964 and retiring in
1969. It had a 3.625 in (92 mm) bore and 3.31 in (84 mm) stroke. It had a mechanical solid lifter valvetrain until 1968 when it switched to the hydraulic valvetrain used in the
LA 318. A special high performance version of the 273 was created in 1966. It used a 0.500" lift solid-lifter camshaft, steel-tube header exhaust, and a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, producing 275 horsepower (1 hp/cid). It was available in the Dart only, and the car was dubbed the "D-Dart".
The 273 was used in:
*
Dodge Dart*
Plymouth Barracuda*
Plymouth Belvedere*
Dodge Coronet*
Plymouth Satellite*
Plymouth ValiantThe
LA 318 was a 318 in³ (5.2 L) relative of the
A 318. Like the A 318, it has a larger bore at 3.91 in (99 mm). It appeared shortly after the 273, in
1967, and proved tremendously successful. An evolution of this engine was available until the early 2000s when it was retired.
This engine was used in the following vehicles:
* 1984-1989
Chrysler Fifth Avenue*
Chrysler Valiant* 1977-1981
Chrysler LeBaron*
Dodge Challenger*
Dodge Coronet*
Dodge Dart*
Dodge Diplomat* 1991
Dodge Dakota*
Dodge Aspen*
Dodge Demon*
Dodge Dart Sport*
Dodge Ram*
Dodge Ramcharger*
Plymouth Fury*
Plymouth Valiant*
Plymouth Satellite*
Plymouth Gran Fury*
Plymouth Belvedere*
Plymouth Volare*
Plymouth Barracuda*
Plymouth DusterAs the Detroit horsepower wars heated up in the mid 60's, Chrysler decided to produce a small block V8 specifically designed for high performance applications. They wanted a lightweight, high output engine that was equally at home at the drag strip or on an oval track. Thus, the legendary 340 was born.
Performance Design:Starting with their tried and true 318 LA small block, Chrysler engineers increased the cylinder bores to 4.04 inches (103 mm) while keeping the 318's 3.31 inch stroke. Anticipating higher loads resulting from racing operation, the engineers fitted a forged steel crankshaft instead of the cast one used in the 318. A 4-Barrel carburetor was mated to a high-rise, dual plane intake manifold. This induction setup fed into a set of cylinder heads that are still considered one of the best of that era. The heads were high-flow with big ports, and used 2.02/1.60 inch intake and exhaust valves. An aggressive cam was fitted to take advantage of the much better breathing top end. 1968 4-Speed cars got an even hotter cam, but it was discontinued in 1969. Using flat-top pistons, the 340's compression ratio was 10.5:1, placing it near the limit of what was possible on pump gas. On top of all this, 340 customers also got a dual timing chain, windage tray and a revised oil pump as standard equipment. The result was an incredibly potent powerplant.
Performance Characteristics:Like many other performance V8's of the day, for insurance reasons, the 340 engine was underrated at 275 hp (205 kW) with a single four-barrel carburetor and 290 hp (216 kW) with three two barrels. However, in reality both configurations could produce at least 315 to 320 hp (235 to 239 kW). On the street, the 340 delivered as promised. The engine was simply a screamer and many a big block driver found themselves shaking their heads after being beaten by the little Chrysler small block. Within the Chrysler family, the 340 gave nothing away to the 383 on the strip, and totally outclassed it when it came to handling. When coupled with lightweight A and E-Bodies, the 340 setup was a born street-fighter that was equally at home on the track. The engine was praised as a high-winder with good durability, making it popular with circle-track racers. The most potent street version was the "Six Pack" 340, found in the Challenger T/A and AAR 'Cuda.
History:Due to the combination of rising gas prices and insurance company crackdown on high-performance vehicles, the 340 did not live long. The LA 340 (5.6 L) first appeared in
1968. In
1972, Chrysler dropped the compression ratio to a tame 8.5:1 and used smaller intake valves in the heads, which greatly reduced the engine's output. The engine lingered for a year, but was finally retired in
1973, as the musclecar era was over and Chrysler no longer had a need for a high performance small block. However, some parts from the 340 lived on in Chrysler's 360 truck engine, which was only recently retired in favor of the new Hemi small block.
This engine was used in the following vehicles:
* Chrysler
Valiant Charger (Australia)
*
Dodge Challenger*
Dodge Charger*
Dodge Dart*
Dodge Super Bee*
Plymouth Barracuda*
Plymouth Duster*
Plymouth Road RunnerThis engine was also powering the
French Monica 560.
The
LA 360 (5.9 L) is version of the LA block bored and stroked to 4.00 by 3.58 in (102 by 91 mm). It appeared in
1971, and was sold until
2003 (known as the
Magnum 5.9). It was replaced by the LA-based 5.7 345 Hemi.
This engine was used in the following vehicles:
* Various
Bristols (in Bristol-modified form)
*
Chrysler 300*
Chrysler Valiant &
Valiant Charger (Australia)
* Chrysler by Chrysler (Australia)
* 1975-1979
Chrysler Cordoba* 1978-1979
Chrysler LeBaron* 1977-1981
Chrysler New Yorker* 1971-1981 Chrysler Newport
* 1976-1980
Dodge Aspen* 1974
Dodge Challenger* 1974-1978
Dodge Charger* 1974-1976
Dodge Coronet* 1974-1976
Dodge Dart* 1978-1979
Dodge Diplomat* 1978-1979
Dodge Magnum* 1971-1978
Dodge Monaco* 1971-1973
Dodge Polara* 1971-1980
Dodge D Series* 1981-1991
Dodge Ram* 1979-1991
Dodge Ram Van/
Dodge Ram Wagon* 1971-1978
Dodge Sportsman/
Dodge Tradesman* 1974-1991
Dodge Ramcharger* 1974
Plymouth Barracuda* 1974-1976
Plymouth Duster* 1971-1978
Plymouth Fury* 1975-1977, 1980
Plymouth Gran Fury* 1974-1983
Plymouth Voyager* 1979-1981
Dodge St. Regis* 1976-1980
Plymouth VolareThe
238 V6 is a 238 in³ (3.9 L)
V6. It derives from the
318 V8. It debuted in
1987. Output was 125 hp (93 kW) until it was replaced by the
Magnum 3.9 starting in
1992.
Applications:
* 1987-1991
Dodge DakotaApplications:
*200x-
Dodge Ram*2004-present
Dodge DurangoThe
Magnum 5.2 is an evolution of the
318 with the same displacement. It received the
Magnum V8 name with new manifolds and heads in
1992. Major changes that year include the addition of multiport
fuel injection, a new higher-flow valve angle, increased valve lift, and larger exhaust. Power was up to 230 hp and 325tq (172 kW), with 300 ft·lbf of torque, from 170 hp (127 kW) previously. Production of the Magnum 5.2 ended with the 2003 model year
Dodge Ram Van. It was replaced by the new 4.7 L
PowerTech V8 offered in 2002
Dodge Ram pickups, 1999
Jeep Grand Cherokees, and 2000
Dodge Dakota pickups.
Applications:
* 1992-1999
Dodge Dakota* 1992-2001
Dodge Ram* 1998-2000
Dodge Durango* 1992-1993
Dodge Ramcharger* 1992-2003
Dodge Ram Van* 1993-1998
Jeep Grand CherokeeThe
Magnum 5.9 is an evolution of the
360. It got the
Magnum V8 name with the same new manifolds, heads, and fuel injection as the 5.2 for
1993. power output that year was 230 hp (172 kW), with 325 ft·lbf (441 N·m) of torque. The engine eventually reached 250 hp (183 kW) and 345 ft·lbf (465 N·m) of torque in later years or production. Starting in 2003, the 5.7 L
Hemi V8 began replacing this engine.
Applications:
* 1998-2003
Dodge Dakota* 1992-2003
Dodge Ram (only available in 1500 models for 2003)
* 1992-2003
Dodge Ram Van/
Dodge Ram Wagon* 1998-2003
Dodge Durango* 1992-1993
Dodge Ramcharger* 1998
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
The
3.9 V6 is a
318 with two cylinders removed. It replaced the
238 with the
Magnum name in
1992, with the same changes as the Magnum V8s. Power increased substantially, from 125 hp (93 kW) to 180 hp (134 kW). This engine was last produced for the 2003
Dodge Dakota pickup. Starting in the 2004 model year it was entirely removed from production and replaced with the 3.7 L
PowerTech V6 engine, which itself was a cut-down version of the 4.7 L
PowerTech V8.
Applications:
* 1992-2003
Dodge Dakota* 1992-2003
Dodge Ram Van/
Dodge Ram Wagon* 1992-2001
Dodge RamThe
Viper V10 is loosely based on the rest of the LA family, and appeared with the
Dodge Viper in
1992. It can be thought of as a
Magnum 5.9 with two extra cylinders and a longer stroke of 3.88 in (99 mm).
Originally designed as a
truck engine,
Lamborghini revamped Dodge's
cast-iron block
V10 for the Viper by recasting the block and head in
aluminium alloy, giving the engine a significant power boost. Some within Lamborghini felt that the
pushrod two-valve design, while adequate for the truck application for which the engine was originally created, was unsuitable for a performance car. However, Chrysler was uncertain about the Viper's production costs and sales potential and so declined to provide the budget for the modification.
The engine produced 400 hp (298 kW) and 490 ft·lbf (664 N·m) of
torque. The second-generation engine produced 450 hp and 490 ft·lbf. The third-generation engine (starting with 2003 Viper) continues to use this engine, but now with 510 hp and 535 ft·lbf.
Production of the V10 engine started at
Mound Road Engine before moving to
Conner Avenue Assembly in May
2001. This is the same facility that produces the Viper itself. In addition, the Viper V10 found its way back into the Ram with the Ram SRT-10 model, earning the truck the Guiness World Record for fastest production truck. A limited run (10) of the
Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle also uses this engine.
Orginally developed in the 1980s as a truck engine used for the larger size Rams, the V10 was re-engineered as the engine of the Dodge Viper in 1990 by Lamborghini, then owned by Chrysler, and used in the Ram 2500. It was a rare engine and provided far less power than the rebuilt model in the Viper. It was used in Dodge trucks and was called the
Ram Tough V10 Magnum.
*
Chrysler engines*
Chrysler A engine*
Chrysler Hemi engine*
LA Engine link on Allpar
