

It had a mechanical solid lifter valvetrain until 1968 when hydraulic lifters were introduced hydraulic lifters generally make for a quieter valvetrain. The 273 cu in (4.5 L) was the first LA engine, beginning model year 1964 and offered through 1969, rated at 180 hp (134 kW). The engine was produced through 2004 before it was replaced with the 3.7 L Power Tech V6. In 1997, it was then upgraded to sequential fuel injection. Next, in the 1992 Magnum update, the throttle-body fuel injection was upgraded to a multi-port fuel injection.

In 1988 it was upgraded with throttle-body fuel injection and roller tappets which it retained until the 1992 Magnum update. In 1987 it used a two-barrel Holley carburetor and hydraulic tappets. Output was 125 hp (93 kW) and 195 lb⋅ft (264 N⋅m) until it was replaced by the Magnum 3.9 starting in 1992. The bore and stroke are 99.3 mm (3.9 in) and 84 mm (3.3 in), respectively. It is essentially a six-cylinder version of the 318 V8. The 238.2 cu in (3.9 L) V6 was released in 1987 for use in the Dodge Dakota and as a replacement for the older, longer Slant-Six for the Dodge RAM.
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The basic design of the LA engine would go unchanged through the development of the "Magnum" upgrade (1992-1993) and into the 2000s with changes to enhance power and efficiency. Willem Weertman, who later became Chief Engineer – Engine Design and Development, was in charge of the conversion.

The "LA" and "A" production overlapped from 1964 - 1966 in the US and through 1967 in export vehicles when the "A" 318 engine was phased out. The "LA" stands for "Light A", as the 1956 - 1967 "A" engine it was closely based on and shares many parts with was nearly 50 pounds heavier. LA engines were made at Chrysler's Mound Road Engine plant in Detroit, Michigan, as well as plants in Canada and Mexico. LA engines have the same 4.46 in (113 mm) bore spacing as the A engines. The combustion chambers are wedge-shaped, rather than the polyspherical combustion chambers in the predecessor A engine or the hemispherical combustion chambers in the Chrysler Hemi engine. It was factory-installed in passenger vehicles, trucks and vans, commercial vehicles, marine and industrial applications from 1964 through 1991 (318) & 1992 (360). The LA engines are a family of pushrod OHV small block 90° V-configured gasoline engines built by Chrysler Corporation.
