What makes a Mopar engine special or different?

[Moparfiend]

So I’m asking this question because I’m wondering what are some of the details of let’s say the Chrysler LA small block that makes it different than a GM small block from the builders perspective.

Can a Chrysler guy build a good GM engine and can a GM guy build a good Chrysler engine? This when considering to have your engine rebuilt should it be by a Chrysler guy? What is a Chrysler guy?

This for example came about when I was going through my heads. I noticed that the rocker arm shafts were not put in correctly. There’s a notch in them that shows correct orientation. I didn’t know this at the time, but I did notice that when I checked for oil flow during priming, the lifters weren’t getting correct or any flow. After investigating, I realized the shafts were reversed, and the oil holes were not lining up. An experienced Chrysler guy would know this right away, but a GM guy might not.

So what other main differences or minor peculiarities are there? Can a GM guy easily build a Chrysler engine if he’s a competent machinist and builder or is there something inherently different about Chrysler engines versus GM engines?

 

[Cranky]

emo??

 

[Cranky]

An engine is just a big air pump but all the tricks that work on a Mopar might not work on the others....but basics is basics. I used to buy Mopar race cars that some Chevy guy couldn't make run good so it was basically discarded and gave up on it.

 

[Moparfiend]

emo??

? Did I miss something?

 

[Moparfiend]

An engine is just a big air pump but all the tricks that work on a Mopar might not work on the others....but basics is basics. I used to buy Mopar race cars that some Chevy guy couldn't make run good so it was basically discarded and gave up on it.

I guess I’m looking for the details as I stated above as to what makes these blocks and heads that much different. I know on the LA engine lifter angles are much more pronounced, but it’s stuff like that. I’d like to understand better.
I also understand that a Chevy guy may not know the right combination of cam specs, and compression ratio deck, height, and piston, exposure, etc., that an experienced guy would know. And maybe that’s the real extent of this whole question is just getting the right combination??

 

[RemCharger]

? Did I miss something?

I assume so. They're your words. Re- read your title.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

? Did I miss something?

look at your title

 

[ruffcut]

? Did I miss something?

Yeah , your title????

 

[Don Frelier]

I assume so. They're your words. Re- read your title.

I'm guessing:

emo power = a mopar​

A chevy guy would never figure that out.

 

[Black_Sheep]

A competent engine builder should be smart enough to know what they don't know and seek out the appropriate information. Over the past 50 years I've built dozens of Ford, GM and Mopar engines and repaired or modified dozens more. I always had reference materials handy for torque specs and engine specific assembly details, like the rocker shaft example cited.

At the end of the day, parts are parts and proper assembly practices and attention to detail remain the same regardless of engine manufacturer. A competent engine builder should be able to work on anything.

 

[Cop car wagon]

Rocker shafts are oiled by the head. If the lifters were not getting oil, you have the wrong lifters.
A mopar engine builder would know that. So would a good machinist. But wrong lifters are advertised as fitting, so there is that.

 

[Cranky]

A competent engine builder should be smart enough to know what they don't know and seek out the appropriate information. Over the past 50 years I've built dozens of Ford, GM and Mopar engines and repaired or modified dozens more. I always had reference materials handy for torque specs and engine specific assembly details, like the rocker shaft example cited.

At the end of the day, parts are parts and proper assembly practices and attention to detail remain the same regardless of engine manufacturer. A competent engine builder should be able to work on anything

My first engine rebuild (overhaul?) was a 289 and with a little bit of cylinder clearance, it ran pretty good for being a small engine but I've been able to make 318's run pretty good too even without extra cylinder clearance. Ran the 289 at the track and it did a 15 flat in a 66 Mudstain FB (3050 weight) and the teen did a 13.51 in a 2950 car. The 89 didn't get the gears and cam that the teen did though.

 

[Moparfiend]

Sorry about the title guys. I fixed it.

 

[Moparfiend]

A competent engine builder should be smart enough to know what they don't know and seek out the appropriate information. Over the past 50 years I've built dozens of Ford, GM and Mopar engines and repaired or modified dozens more. I always had reference materials handy for torque specs and engine specific assembly details, like the rocker shaft example cited.

At the end of the day, parts are parts and proper assembly practices and attention to detail remain the same regardless of engine manufacturer. A competent engine builder should be able to work on anything.

Thanks those are good inputs. It seems reasonable to me. I was just wondering if there are any peculiarities or differences in the assemblies that a “Mopar” builder would know that other builders wouldn’t.
But what I found interesting is that many assembly techniques are common across manufacturers of this era. It’s almost like they were using each other‘s designs to create theirs.
I’m sure they were doing competitive teardown analysis back then…..

 

[Lefty71]

I’m sure they were doing competitive teardown analysis back then…..

About ten seconds after they hit the market.....and what do you mean "back then" ? LoL

 

[69Bee]

I am a machinist and have built: Mopar. Chevy, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Industrial, Diesel, Rolls Royce, Alpha Romeo, Tractor, Car, Truck, and much more than I can remember. Yes, someone can specialize on one brand, but a machinist that pays attention to the details and can identify whether the parts are correct for the application can do a better job. I have had more than one customer bring in their parts that they just got from Summit Racing that would not fit or were wrong for what he was doing, 'But that is what the SR guy on the phone sold me!', to which I reply "He only knows how to poke buttons, not know which combinations of parts will work for you.