Dodge 5.9L Magnum V8

Dodge 5.9L Magnum V8 — every model and year that used this engine (14 models, 1981–2008), based on NHTSA VIN build data, with links to prices and reliability.

RAM, Durango, Dakota (LA-family Magnum).

5.9L · 8 cylinders · seen in 14 models, 1981–2008

By the numbers

Output range 180–205 hp (median 185 hp). Gasoline: 100%. Based on 657 decoded NHTSA VIN build sheets.

About this engine family

The LA engine is a family of overhead-valve small-block 90° V-configured gasoline engines built by Chrysler Corporation between 1964 and 2003. Primarily V8s, the line includes a single V6 and V10, both derivations of its Magnum series introduced in 1992. A replacement of the Chrysler A engine, they were factory-installed in passenger vehicles, trucks and vans, commercial vehicles, marine and industrial applications.

Their combustion chambers are wedge-shaped, rather than polyspheric, as in the A engine, or hemispheric in the Chrysler Hemi. LA engines have the same 4.46 in (113 mm) bore spacing as the A engines.

In detail

The V6 was introduced with the Dodge Dakota for 1987, and replaced the older, longer Slant-Six in the Dodge Ram trucks and vans for 1988. It is essentially a six-cylinder version of the 318 V8. The bore and stroke are 99.3 mm (3.9 in) and 84 mm (3.3 in), respectively. Output was and until it was replaced by the 3.9 L Magnum starting in 1992. In 1987, it used a two-barrel Holley carburetor and hydraulic valve lifters.

In 1988, it was upgraded with throttle-body fuel injection and roller lifters. For the 1992 Magnum update, the throttle-body fuel injection was upgraded to a multi-port fuel injection system. In 1997, it was then upgraded to sequential fuel injection. The engine was produced through 2003 before it was replaced with the 3.7 L PowerTech V6. 1987–2003 Dodge Dakota 1988–2001 Dodge Ram 1988–2003 Dodge Ram Van The was the first LA engine, beginning model year 1964 and offered through 1969, rated.

It had a bore and stroke of . It had hydraulic lifters generally make for a quieter valvetrain. The reciprocating assembly included a cast or forged steel crankshaft, drop forged steel connecting rods and cast aluminum pistons. The valvetrain consisted of a cast nodular iron camshaft, solid or hydraulic lifters, solid pushrods, and shaft-mounted, malleable iron rocker arms (stamped steel on later hydraulic-cam engines).

These actuated the overhead steel intake and exhaust valves. The cylinder heads featured wedge-shaped combustion chambers with a single intake and a single exhaust valve for each cylinder. Spark plugs were located in the side of the cylinder head, between the exhaust ports. A high-performance was offered from 1965 to 1967; called the "Commando", it was standard in the Barracuda Formula S model and optional in all other compact models excluding station wagons.

It featured a 4-barrel carburetor and matching intake manifold, chrome unsilenced air cleaner with callout sticker, longer-duration and higher-lift camshaft and stronger valve springs, 10.5:1 compression ratio, and special black wrinkle valve covers with extruded aluminum appliqués. It was fitted to a low-restriction exhaust system with a exhaust pipe, collector-type Y-junction, and exposed resonator. For 1965 (only), the muffler was of "straight through" construction.

A special version, exclusive to the 1966 Dodge Dart, was available. It used a lift solid-lifter camshaft, fabricated-steel-tube exhaust, and a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, producing (1 hp/cu in). The car so equipped was called the "D-Dart," a reference to its classification in NHRA D-stock for drag racing, which was the car's only intended purpose. 1964–1969 Dodge Dart 1964–1969 Plymouth Barracuda Plymouth Belvedere Dodge Coronet Plymouth Satellite 1964–1969 Plymouth Valiant 1966–1967 Ghia 450 SS The LA 318 has a bore and stroke of , identical to the A 318 it was derived.

It appeared in volume production beginning with the 1968 model year, replacing the last of the export "A" 318 engines equipped with polyspherical chambered heads ("A" 318 engines were not offered in 1967 domestic vehicles). The LA engine was available until 1991, when it was superseded by the Magnum version. It used hydraulic lifters and a two-barrel carburetor for most of its production, though four-barrel Carter Thermo-Quad and Rochester Quadrajet carburetors were used in police applications starting in 1978 and 1985, respectively.

The 318 two-barrel ELD received roller lifters and a fast-burn chambered cylinder head in 1985 (the four-barrel police ELE 318 continued to use modified J heads and hydraulic flat valve lifters through 1989). Throttle-body electronic fuel injection was factory equipment on the 1981–1983 Imperial. From 1988 to 1991, another throttle-body fuel injection system was used for truck and van applications.

Source: Wikipedia — Chrysler LA engine, CC BY-SA.

Models that used this engine

Model Years with this engine Fuel VIN builds seen
RAM 1994–2003 Gasoline 188
RAM VAN 1981–2003 Gasoline 118
D-SERIES 1981–1993 Gasoline 98
W-SERIES 1981–1993 Gasoline 62
RAM WAGON 1984–2002 Gasoline 46
RAM CHASSIS CAB 1995–2002 Gasoline 36
DURANGO 1998–2003 Gasoline 36
DAKOTA 1989–2003 Gasoline 29
RAMCHARGER 1984–1993 Gasoline 26

Engine usage derived from NHTSA VIN build data (displacement + cylinder configuration). Model links lead to prices, generations and reliability.

For sale with this engine