Chrysler LA engine
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The LA engine (light or low A engine) was an evolution of the small-block Chrysler A engine. It continues through this day in the form of the Dodge Viper V10, 3.9 L V6, and 5.2 L and 5.9 liter 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 Chrysler 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 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.
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273
The LA 273 (4.5 L) was the first LA engine, debuting in 1964 and retiring in 1969. It had a 3.62 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.
The 273 was used in:
- Dodge Dart
- Plymouth Barracuda
- Plymouth Belvedere
- Plymouth Coronet
- Plymouth Satellite
- Plymouth Valiant
318
The LA 318 was a 318 in³ (5.2 L) relative of the A 318. Like the A 318, it was bored out to 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:
- Dodge Challenger
- Dodge Coronet
- Dodge Dart
- 1991 Dodge Dakota
- Dodge Aspen
- Dodge Demon
- Dodge Dart Sport
- Plymouth Fury
- Plymouth Valiant
- Plymouth Satellite
- Plymouth Belvedere
- Plymouth Volare
- Plymouth Barracuda
- Plymouth 'Cuda
- Plymouth Duster
340
The LA 340 (5.6 L) appeared in 1968 and was retired in 1973. It was bored out to 4.04 in (103 mm) 318 with higher-flow heads. The engine was underrated at 275 hp (205 kW) with a single four barrel carburetor and 290 hp (216 kW) with three two barrels. Both motors could produce at least 315 to 320 hp (235 to 239 kW).
This engine was used in the following vehicles:
- Dodge Challenger
- Dodge Charger
- Dodge Dart
- Dodge Ramcharger
- Plymouth Barracuda
- Plymouth Duster
- Plymouth Road Runner
This engine was also powering the French Monica.
360
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 Cordoba
- Chrysler LeBaron
- Chrysler New Yorker
- Chrysler Newport
- Dodge Aspen
- Dodge Challenger
- Dodge Dart
- Dodge Diplomat
- Dodge Monaco
- Dodge Polara
- Plymouth Barracuda
- Plymouth Duster
- Plymouth Fury
- Plymouth Gran Fury
- Dodge St. Regis
238
The 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:
- 1986-1991 Dodge Dakota
Magnum 5.2
The 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 (172 kW) from 170 hp (127 kW) previously. Production of the Magnum 5.2 ended with the 2001 model year Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. The new 4.7 L PowerTech V8 was the base engine offered in 2002 Dodge Ram pickups, 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokees, and 2000 Dodge Dakota pickups.
Applications:
- 1991-1999 Dodge Dakota
Magnum 5.9
The 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 Nm) of torque. The engine eventually reached 245 hp (183 kW) and 345 ft.lbf (332 Nm) of torque in later years or production. The 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups were the last model to feature this engine. Starting in 2003, the 3/4 and 1 ton pickups in the Dodge lineup featured the 5.7 L Hemi V8 as the base engine.
Applications:
- 1998-2003 Dodge Dakota
Magnum 3.9
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
Viper V10
The 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 Nm) of torque. The second-generation 2003 Viper continues to use this engine, now with 500 hp (373 kW).
Ram Tough V10
The same basic design as the Viper V10, but executed in cast iron, appeared in 1994 and was retired in 2002. The new 5.7 Hemi V8 offered as the base engine in 2500 and 3500 Ram pickups surpassed the V10 in terms of power, and Chrysler was unwilling to invest in updating the V10 due to limited sales. The Cummins diesel engine option also filled customers needs for higher torque output. The "iron Viper" engine shared very few components with the all-aluminum Viper V10. It is a wasted spark design with two ignition controllers - one for six cylinders and another for the remaining 4. It was used in Dodge trucks and is called the Ram Tough V10.
See also
External link
- LA Engine link on Allpar (http://www.allpar.com/mopar/318.html)