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440roadrunner · 11-09-2007, 08:19 PM

The best way to "tell" an LA versus an A engine is simply LOOKING at it. An LA engine looks like a 273, 328, 340, or 360 The valve covers are "straight" on the sides, like this:

http://www.geocities.com/fjr340/rgtsd340.jpg

All LA engines have the engine number on the block on the passenger side, just below the head, with the CID encoded into the number. Thus it is VERY easy to make liars out of someone selling you a 340 when it really is a 318.

The early 318, also called a "poly" or "polyspherical, has scallops on the outboard sides of the covers, like this:

http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.c...es/polyval.jpg

In many ways, those poly heads are far superiour to the late engine, I guess the cost of making the heads was a factor. When you tear down an A engine, it is very difficult to tell it apart from the later LA engine--as a few rebuilders have discovered.

11-09-2007, 08:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
440roadrunner Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 272	The best way to "tell" an LA versus an A engine is simply LOOKING at it. An LA engine looks like a 273, 328, 340, or 360 The valve covers are "straight" on the sides, like this: http://www.geocities.com/fjr340/rgtsd340.jpg All LA engines have the engine number on the block on the passenger side, just below the head, with the CID encoded into the number. Thus it is VERY easy to make liars out of someone selling you a 340 when it really is a 318. The early 318, also called a "poly" or "polyspherical, has scallops on the outboard sides of the covers, like this: http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.c...es/polyval.jpg In many ways, those poly heads are far superiour to the late engine, I guess the cost of making the heads was a factor. When you tear down an A engine, it is very difficult to tell it apart from the later LA engine--as a few rebuilders have discovered.