HEMIs aint good???
AdamR said
Yup, awful motor. Thats why every Top fuel car uses them.
On face value the article is correct. The average "stock race hemi" was a poor low rpm performer, riddled with everyday problems and was hyped up more that it really could do at the time it was released. It had a bad problem of over heating, boiling gas outta the carbs and starting in the Heat of a midwest day.
If you look at some of the Archived Direct Connect tech memos, they conclude and direct some major problems. Wasnt until Dick landy, Spalding dodge(just two that are on the top of the list) made, on its own some unapproved real world adjustments in the feild, that it became its own. Credit has to go to the dealerships that tuned them for us daily drivers, not the "factory".
Now flash forward 40 years. The Top fuel teams use a
design" particular of the old hemi but far from "ma mopar". YEAP.
Heads still maintain the design, but valve geomerety and compoents are far from "origional". Places like Indy, Stage V, BAE, KB ect, ect, found the problems corrected them and took advantage of it. Classic example is that a MP 528 hemi head can be gotten for about 2200.00 vs. a Stage V "SR" style head about 4800.00. Quality does cost money. Quality in new design, does cost! Call any of the top named "Street" type engine builders and ask them of what the OEM Hemi is worth as a project.
I recently had to visit a head shop where the "porter" was repairing a set of hemi fuel heads. Massive and they do move air. Rocker stands walla out, spark plug inserts crack, push rod geom is wacky. riddled with still modern problems(but us on the street arent going 5.40 and over 330 mph either).
My life's dream was to own an elephant...but when my father did finally buy one back in the late 70's, it took us 7+ yrs to find parts and get it together correctly. Unfortuantely, my dad passed shortly after it was completed. But a peice of American history was owned by this clan......
Having myself grown up in the 60's, 70's being around these engines, you'll still see my eyes open up and mouth open and Say....geezI wish I could have one to put in a car.
But when the best parted hemi NA made by the premier Hemi guru and will cost ya nearly 40k for around 1150 hp and the same CID Other brand makes more HP and costs less..........unless your racing top fuel....well just
MAKES YA WONDER....
(Bought my wednesday night winning lottery ticket, so when I win it, I can buy 2 hemis)......in my dreams
Dave
