What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!

Author Topic: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!  (Read 3086 times)

Offline 2fast4u

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What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« on: July 06, 2005 - 10:46:21 PM »
   Well I gotta say...when I first learned about the HEMI engine I was in the dark as to why they called it a "HEMI" engine.   As we all know it is the hemispherical combustion chamber and the domed pistions....RIGHT!?

   So what I wanna know is......Has anybody here actually SEEN the insides of the new Hemi engines.  I work at a dealership and one of the lines we sell is Jeep...now a branch of Mopar.  When I look up info on the new "hemi" engine.......It shows flat top pistons and in a monthly Magazine we get called "MOPAR", it showed the heads to what is supposed to be the new hemi engine.   No hemisherical shape what so ever and the pictures of the pistons in our cataloging show the same configuration as the heads in the magazine. If this is so........THEN WHY ARE THEY CALLING IT A HEMI ENGINE???

  Can somebody/anybody shed some light on this subject please!!!

2fast




Offline Burpin Chunks

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2005 - 11:09:41 PM »
HEMI = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ - even if only in name!


Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2005 - 11:10:23 PM »
it is offset valve with domed chamber & it is mostly marketing

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Offline Burpin Chunks

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2005 - 11:23:46 PM »
Doesnt it have 2 spark plugs as well. Also dont count it out yet, Burpin was reading in the Mag that with headers and a cam change you can get close too 400 HP. With some forced induction who knows where it will go.

Offline Carlwalski

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2005 - 11:36:10 PM »

Hope this isn't hi-jacking your thread Chunks but if a 440 can beat the HEMI to the legal speed limit (0-60mph) why is it so desired?  :???:


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Offline 04lbram

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2005 - 11:44:50 PM »
The HEMI is so desired because it is limited production. That's the biggest reason why but, the thing I have even with the newer HEMIs is the valvetrain setup. I know the older ones you have the adjust it it constantly or so I heard and read. Anyways, the newer ones had a weaker valvetrain at first. DCX went through 3 different revisions of valve springs for the HEMI engine. I know I had one (2003 Ram QC 4x4) and it had a few bad valve springs on it.
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Offline OUTLAW

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2005 - 02:12:12 AM »
only comparison I can make between the "new hemi" and a real hemi is that the new one is very similar to the old 354 hemi and they werent good for much either

Offline cudacharlie

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2005 - 05:06:56 AM »
Yeh, the new HEMI is probably more marketing than head geometry, although it seems to be a "domed" chamber (although maybe not really half-a-sphere-ish) as opposed to a straight wedge head... at least according to the pics I saw in Mopar Action (might have been Mopar Muscle).

But even though it's only a 345ci, it can pull my barge of a Magnum (very loaded with accessories including about 40lbs of tailgate counterweights) up to speed with surprising quickness...  even with sweetie riding shotgun and some tools and junk in the back, she lays down a fair patch of rubber (traction control OFF!) and do easy 14's, and ever since I swapped out the exhaust, she will give out a pretty impressive roar, not like the glassy, hollow sound you usually hear from trick exhausts on late-model V8's....

Porsche 911 c4 or gt3 - leaves me standing, blue Subaru WRX with double-decker wing - leaves me standing, but everybody else has had a  pretty surprised look on their face.  Love it.
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Offline hemi71

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2005 - 09:01:13 AM »
NZ, while a well tuned 440-6 would beat a hemi to 60MPH, in the quarter mile it's the hemi that wins the race. I've owned both type cars, and given equal mods, the 440-6's out-pull a hemi in the lower RPM ranges, but up top (4500RPM and up) is where the hemi is KING. Back in the day, a 440-6 pitted against a hemi in a quarter mile race would be in front almost all the way down the track, then just before the traps, the hemi would just walk on by and win. As far as valve lash adjustments, the later (70 and 71) hemis had hydraulic lifters to eliminate the need for adjustments. Now my 472 hemi I have in my 71 is another story, that motor makes torque right off of idle and still pulls HARD at high RPM.

The newer hemi motors are sort of a semi-hemi combustion chamber, the two plugs are for better emmissions and to get a complete burn of the cylinder charge. I think they are a good motor, and I plan on getting one in the wife's next car. As far as about 99% of the general public is concerned, they have NO idea what a hemi motor is, all they know is the name and it's supposed to be the best.

Offline Carlwalski

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2005 - 09:56:37 AM »

NZ, while a well tuned 440-6 would beat a hemi to 60MPH, in the quarter mile it's the hemi that wins the race. I've owned both type cars, and given equal mods, the 440-6's out-pull a hemi in the lower RPM ranges, but up top (4500RPM and up) is where the hemi is KING. Back in the day, a 440-6 pitted against a hemi in a quarter mile race would be in front almost all the way down the track, then just before the traps, the hemi would just walk on by and win. As far as valve lash adjustments, the later (70 and 71) hemis had hydraulic lifters to eliminate the need for adjustments. Now my 472 hemi I have in my 71 is another story, that motor makes torque right off of idle and still pulls HARD at high RPM.


Thanks HEMI.  :beer:

I'm talking 440-4bbl (480lbs-ft) as well. I knew the HEMI takes over after the 60mph mark and would win the 1/4 but thats like (dare I say it) a Honnda Vtec system.....comes to the party late, vtec kicks in around 5,000rpm.  :-\ Another disadvantage is the engine was huge aka Elephant. Well tuned or not I'm talking drive a 440 and HEMI car off the factory floor, race 'em the 440 would win to the legal speed limit. (Which is where most of your street racers would end) or atleast back down a little) If the engine pulled hard from o-1/4 then the rep is very suited but if it strugles against the 440 to the 60mph and loses most if not all in stock form I don't see why it greats it's wild street rep?  :dontknow:


I love my MoPars and I love my HEMI I just feel the HEMI is blown out of proportion.
Great design (for it's era and today) and limited numbers make it desired today.


I know if you change the set up on the HEMI it will pull hard but a 440 can just as easily be turned into a bigger monster.



Cheers,
Carl
« Last Edit: July 07, 2005 - 10:01:52 AM by NZ440R/T »
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Offline 2fast4u

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2005 - 07:11:47 PM »
   Thanks for all the input guys............ :thumbs:

Offline HEMI HUNTER

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #11 on: July 08, 2005 - 07:17:26 PM »
I was in wal mart and saw a engine model in toy section..   see through HEMI that runs and a chip for noise. $70

will get it this weekend
Why are the only other cars on the road all in my rear view mirror?  Oh yeah cause I got a 440/6 pack

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Offline Andrew

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2005 - 07:34:32 PM »
when you do, remember

 :worthless:

Offline Carlwalski

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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #13 on: July 08, 2005 - 10:10:20 PM »
 :iagree: That sounds awesome.  :D
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540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
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Re: What makes a HEMI a HEMI!!
« Reply #14 on: July 08, 2005 - 11:17:43 PM »
Not to hijack this thread either but refering to NZ's comments about the 440 VS HEMI I'll give two people $4,000.00 each, (hypotheticly of course!) one can go out and build a hemi and another can go out and build a 440. You have to start this contest without an engine on hand! Now that that's done, let's meet at the track! What? You couldn't even get started on the HEMI and the 440 is waiting at the christmas tree? LOL Dollar for dollar, you can kick a hemi's butt all day long with a big block at about half the price. Most of us are in that category of needing to get the most bang for the buck. Ask me if you can sell me that hemi with the same mods as I have in my stroker for the same price and I will take it hands down. A good Mopar friend said to me once, if you want to turn heads at the local car shows, HEMI will do the trick, you want em watching your tail lights well, you can fill in the rest!  IMHO  :worship: