Can anyone tell me what this head number means. I cannot find it.

[Fordication]

Here is the head

 

[Xcudame]

If I remember correctly, it's the foundry number. Others might know better which is why FEBO is so awesome.

 

[Fordication]

If I remember correctly, it's the foundry number. Others might know better which is why FEBO is so awesome.

So that is not the number for the head? Seller claims its a racing head for a 340 but not sure.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Looks like there is a number missing. I think I see 342891. Core shift might be a 5 and the a B. Look on the bottom too.

 

[Challenger RTA]

The two locations in which you can find the casting numbers on Mopar cylinder heads. top and bottom of intake runner. Numbers matter more than letters.

LA Small-Block Mopar Cylinder Head Casting Numbers

2268341 – 1962-1967, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.84/1.56 valves

2465315 – 1964-1965, 273 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2532080 – 1964-1965, 273 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2536178 – 1966, 273 LA-series small-block,1.78/1.50 valves, early

2658234 – 1966, 273 LA-series small-block,1.78/1.50 valves, late

2658920 – 1967, 273 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.50 valves

2658920 – 1967, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2658234 – 1967, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2843675 – 1967, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2843675 – 1968-1969, 273 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2531894 – 1968-1970, 340 LA-series small-block, 2.02/1.60 valves

3418915 – 1970, 340 LA-series small-block, 2.02/1.60 valves, 63cc-73.5cc, T/A

3418915 – 1970-1972, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 65cc-73cc

3418915 – 1971-1972, 340 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves

3462598 – 340 LA-series small-block, Trans-Am, 63cc-73.5cc

3671587 – 1973, 340 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 65cc-73cc

3671587 – 1973-1974, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 65cc-73cc

3769950 – 1975-1978, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves, w/ air pump

3769974 – 1975-1976, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves

3769973 – 1975-1983, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

4006335 – 1975-1978, 318 LA-series small-block, w/o air pump

4027591 – 1975-1978, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50, w/ air pump

4006337 – 1976-1976, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 2bbl w/o air pump

3671587 – 1976, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 65cc-73cc

4027569 – 1977-1986, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves

4027163 – 1977-1986, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

4027593 – 1977-1984, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

4027594 – 1977-1978 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/ air pump

4027163 – 1980, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

4027596 – 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/160 valves, 66cc-72.5cc

4027596 – 318 LA-series small-block, 1.88/160 valves, 66cc-72.5cc, High Performance

4041001 – 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves, w/o air-pump

4041003 – 1976-1981, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 2bbl van and truck, w/o air pump

4071047 – 1977-1978, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/ air pump

4071051 – 1977-1980, 360 LA small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves

4071051 – 1981-1983, 318 LA-series small-block, High Performance

4100405 – 1979-1981, 318 LA-series small-block 1.78/1.50 valves, w/ air pump

4100408 – 1979-1980, 360 LA-series small-block 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/ air pump

4100409 – 1979 360, LA-series small-block 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/o air pump

4100409 – 1979-1980, 360 LA-series small-block 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/ air pump

4323302 – 1985-1986, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves, Fast Burn, 56cc -65cc

4323345 – 1983-1986, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves, Police, roller, 69cc – 77cc
4323475 – 1985-1987 318 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 69cc -77cc, 4bbl

 

[Challenger RTA]

More info what there not. This might draw attention of an expert.

Depending on the storyteller, "LA" means either "late A" or "light A" and indicates any of the late, narrow wedge-head versions of Chrysler's A engine: 273, 318, 340, and 360. The original A engine had polyspheric combustion chambers had several different displacements, although the 318 is the most common. A engines used two centrally-located valve cover bolts but the LA used 5 around the perimeter of the valve cover flange. The LA was a redesign for 1964 to fit a small-block V8 into A-bodies (273 only until 1968).

The chart shown above is incorrect. There is no "casting number" for T/A heads; the difference is in the machining. All 1970 340s were supposed to have 915 heads. I've yet to encounter an untouched, original '70 engine with 894 (a.k.a. "X") heads but I'm sure they exist. The 915 heads are colloquially called "J" heads, as many have a large, >1" letter "J" cast near the spark plugs. Other letters that might be cast in that area are O,U, and Z. The letter will not tell you if they are T/A heads either. You must look at the location of the intake pushrod holes. All J heads use the same casting; the T/A heads require special intake rocker arms not used on any other cylinder head.

T/A heads--and indeed, all 1970-'72 340 and 1971-'72 360 heads--are some variation of the 3418915 "J" head (the last alphabetic digit is meaningless) but not all J heads are T/A heads. The vast majority of them are not. 360s and late 1972 340s used 1.88" intake valves; 1970-very early '72 340s used 2.02" intake valves. All J heads used 1.60" exhaust valves. Any 1.88" head can be a 2.02" head simply by grinding the intake seats for the larger valves; there is no inherent extra value in an original 2.02" head. Conversely, one cannot (easily) turn a standard J head into a T/A head since the intake pushrod holes are located differently. The original pushrod hole would need to be filled somehow before redrilling in the T/A location... and then you'd need to locate the rare, dreadfully-expensive T/A rocker arms.

There is no way at this point in time to even tell which engine, never mind which car, on which the heads were originally installed unless A) you pulled them yourself off a known original car or B) they're T/A heads, in which case they came from a Challenger T/A or AAR 'Cuda (340 with three two barrels). As mentioned, any small-valve version becomes a large-valve version with a simple, inexpensive valve job.

In terms of performance, they're a bit better than the '68-'69 894 X head by virtue of a slightly-better exhaust port. The T/A heads perform no better than other J heads; the pushrod was moved to allow greater porting but the port itself was not changed--it was a DIY deal. The only better factory head is the late-'80s/early-'90s truck "308" casting, to my knowledge. The J heads were replaced by the inferior "587" casting on 340s and 360s for 1973.

Take a picture of the whole head from the valve cover side, and one of us can tell you whether you have true T/A heads or just basic 340/360 heads.

Light "A". Lighter weight , improved casting. Very few interchangeable parts with the original "A" engine series. "Poly" head series.
No story, just fact.
64 through the "Magnum" 5.2, 5.9 . All had the same basic casting with many interchangeable parts through out the years. 273, 318, 340 All same stroke, different bore sizes. 360 Longer stroke, bigger main journal size. Different oil pan required because of the different crankshaft size.
Mopar History...

 

[HPP]

Got a bigger picture of the head? Some other numbers in other places? Not aware of any "racing heads" for 340s that are stock or even over the counter. Exception would be W2s, but those are obviously not stock and look it.

 

[Fordication]

Looks like there is a number missing. I think I see 342891. Core shift might be a 5 and the a B. Look on the bottom too.View attachment 152362

Owner says it came out of a 340 Racing engine. It might be a 340TA head then. I am asking him to measure the diameter of the intake valve.

 

[HPP]

Could be a TA head. Got any other pictures at all? All factory heads will have rectangular intake ports. Could they be turned into race heads, sure, but what does that mean they did to them?

W heads will have oval ports on intake that are offset and oval exhaust. This is why they require special intakes and exhaust and rockers

 

[Xcudame]

At this point, more photos of the heads would help. I thought the other casting dates and engineering (casting) numbers were already know and these where some abstract numbers on the head.

 

[Challenger RTA]

I think the 340 R block takes a different head but I don't know the number. Not sure?

 

[Chryco Psycho]

R blocks use 6 bolt W7-8-9 heads

 

[Fordication]

The two locations in which you can find the casting numbers on Mopar cylinder heads. top and bottom of intake runner. Numbers matter more than letters.

LA Small-Block Mopar Cylinder Head Casting Numbers

2268341 – 1962-1967, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.84/1.56 valves

2465315 – 1964-1965, 273 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2532080 – 1964-1965, 273 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2536178 – 1966, 273 LA-series small-block,1.78/1.50 valves, early

2658234 – 1966, 273 LA-series small-block,1.78/1.50 valves, late

2658920 – 1967, 273 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.50 valves

2658920 – 1967, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2658234 – 1967, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2843675 – 1967, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2843675 – 1968-1969, 273 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

2531894 – 1968-1970, 340 LA-series small-block, 2.02/1.60 valves

3418915 – 1970, 340 LA-series small-block, 2.02/1.60 valves, 63cc-73.5cc, T/A

3418915 – 1970-1972, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 65cc-73cc

3418915 – 1971-1972, 340 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves

3462598 – 340 LA-series small-block, Trans-Am, 63cc-73.5cc

3671587 – 1973, 340 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 65cc-73cc

3671587 – 1973-1974, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 65cc-73cc

3769950 – 1975-1978, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves, w/ air pump

3769974 – 1975-1976, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves

3769973 – 1975-1983, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

4006335 – 1975-1978, 318 LA-series small-block, w/o air pump

4027591 – 1975-1978, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50, w/ air pump

4006337 – 1976-1976, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 2bbl w/o air pump

3671587 – 1976, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 65cc-73cc

4027569 – 1977-1986, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves

4027163 – 1977-1986, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

4027593 – 1977-1984, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

4027594 – 1977-1978 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/ air pump

4027163 – 1980, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves

4027596 – 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/160 valves, 66cc-72.5cc

4027596 – 318 LA-series small-block, 1.88/160 valves, 66cc-72.5cc, High Performance

4041001 – 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves, w/o air-pump

4041003 – 1976-1981, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 2bbl van and truck, w/o air pump

4071047 – 1977-1978, 360 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/ air pump

4071051 – 1977-1980, 360 LA small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves

4071051 – 1981-1983, 318 LA-series small-block, High Performance

4100405 – 1979-1981, 318 LA-series small-block 1.78/1.50 valves, w/ air pump

4100408 – 1979-1980, 360 LA-series small-block 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/ air pump

4100409 – 1979 360, LA-series small-block 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/o air pump

4100409 – 1979-1980, 360 LA-series small-block 1.88/1.60 valves, 4bbl w/ air pump

4323302 – 1985-1986, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves, Fast Burn, 56cc -65cc

4323345 – 1983-1986, 318 LA-series small-block, 1.78/1.50 valves, Police, roller, 69cc – 77cc
4323475 – 1985-1987 318 LA-series small-block, 1.88/1.60 valves, 69cc -77cc, 4bbl

She told me 2" intakes.

 

[Fordication]

R blocks use 6 bolt W7-8-9 heads

So lets say I rebuild a 360? Would the heads be a good idea?

 

[moparleo]

Lets see the rest of the head both top side and combustion chamber.
T/A head will have 2.02 intake and clearanced pushrod holes.
You are showing us nothing really.

 

[Fordication]

Lets see the rest of the head both top side and combustion chamber.
T/A head will have 2.02 intake and clearanced pushrod holes.
You are showing us nothing really.

That's what the seller sent. I will be driving to buy several things.

 

[HPP]

Without seeing more pictures of the heads and its other cast in numbers, (there are several other features that could help ID these), and the port configurations, it's just a guess as to what these really are. At the $200 price point (which includes the intake) that is provided over in the 318 engine thread, I suspect they are just run of the mill small block heads that have been upgraded to 2.02 valves and have a multi angle valve job, maybe some port matching, and were installed on an engine used for racing. Hence, race heads.

With that said, can any other head be modified and bolted to an LA block and become a race head, absolutely. In fact, because of the expense of setting up a W2 engine, a lot of people I've known have simply modify regular LA heads for racing. I have a pair of mid '90s, high swirl, Magnum runner, LA bolt pattern, ported, big valve heads sitting on my early 360 right now. I put them all together with machining, roller rockers, intake, and headers for about the same price of a bare set of W2s.

Are these heads a good thing to have to use on a 360 in the future, possibly. Depends on what was done to them. Will they be a good thing to use on a 318, that's unknown. As pointed out in the 318 thread, if these are large chamber 340 or 360 heads that have been modified, they may actually drop the compression of the 318 and make it even less powerful than it already is.

While Ford had Boss and Clevland heads that were available on cars from the factory and can be found by the tens of thousands, Mopar never did anything like this. The closest anything that could come to this for small blocks Mopars were the original AAR/TA heads. These were so limited in their production, around 5000 sets, that to think they are easily available at swap meets or local ads for a low price point is pretty unlikely. Not impossible, but unlikely.

Similarly, its unlikely that these are W series heads for the given price point. Not impossible, but unlikely. Additionally, even if they are W2s, depending on what version and the chamber size, they may not necessarily help a 318 and could be hugely worse by allowing massive amounts of airflow into a small and lazy bore.

Lets not confuse things by throwing the X or R blocks into the conversation. They are entirely different animals compared to the stock 318/340/360/Magnum blocks and, IIRC, cannot even utilize a production head.

 

[Fordication]

Without seeing more pictures of the heads and its other cast in numbers, (there are several other features that could help ID these), and the port configurations, it's just a guess as to what these really are. At the $200 price point (which includes the intake) that is provided over in the 318 engine thread, I suspect they are just run of the mill small block heads that have been upgraded to 2.02 valves and have a multi angle valve job, maybe some port matching, and were installed on an engine used for racing. Hence, race heads.

With that said, can any other head be modified and bolted to an LA block and become a race head, absolutely. In fact, because of the expense of setting up a W2 engine, a lot of people I've known have simply modify regular LA heads for racing. I have a pair of mid '90s, high swirl, Magnum runner, LA bolt pattern, ported, big valve heads sitting on my early 360 right now. I put them all together with machining, roller rockers, intake, and headers for about the same price of a bare set of W2s.

Are these heads a good thing to have to use on a 360 in the future, possibly. Depends on what was done to them. Will they be a good thing to use on a 318, that's unknown. As pointed out in the 318 thread, if these are large chamber 340 or 360 heads that have been modified, they may actually drop the compression of the 318 and make it even less powerful than it already is.

While Ford had Boss and Clevland heads that were available on cars from the factory and can be found by the tens of thousands, Mopar never did anything like this. The closest anything that could come to this for small blocks Mopars were the original AAR/TA heads. These were so limited in their production, around 5000 sets, that to think they are easily available at swap meets or local ads for a low price point is pretty unlikely. Not impossible, but unlikely.

Similarly, its unlikely that these are W series heads for the given price point. Not impossible, but unlikely. Additionally, even if they are W2s, depending on what version and the chamber size, they may not necessarily help a 318 and could be hugely worse by allowing massive amounts of airflow into a small and lazy bore.

Lets not confuse things by throwing the X or R blocks into the conversation. They are entirely different animals compared to the stock 318/340/360/Magnum blocks and, IIRC, cannot even utilize a production head.

Actually there is much more to buy. I was just wondering. Aluminum water pump and timing cover. New master cylinder. 4 barrel intake. Etc. Heading there tomorrow to check it out. 4 hour drive but also looking at another warehouse as well.

 

[HPP]

All LA small blocks come with aluminum water pumps and timing chain covers from the factory. No need to upgrade here unless yours are missing. All aftermarket 4 bbl intakes will be aluminum as well.

 

[Challenger RTA]

timing chain covers

Make sure you get the correct year cover!