Why does everyone talk about a HEMI like its god?

What makes a HEMI so great? Is it just marketing hype? I trhought it was just the shape of the cylinder heads?

Someone please explain

THANKS

Big J

Hemi's use a hemispherical cylinder rather than a flat or pent. Because of this the surface area is smaller and less heat is lost giving higher peak pressure. Meaning that you have a much more complete combustion. More efficent, less waste. Because of the design there are 2 valves per cylinder. Spark plug on top 1 valve on each side. This allows for larger valves so there is better air movement. This should help, I could go more in depth but I don't feel like it.

Big J,

If you never had a hemi, you won't understand.

It's a mopar thing.

And they ARE so great, although the new "hemi" is quite puny in comparison to the original 392/426 cu in. "real" hemis, but they are still Hemi's!

Mitsubishi's 2.6L 4 cyl was a hemi, too. Nobody raves about that piece of sh!t.

What indyram has posted here is correct.

However:
The "hemi" concept was brought to life by Zora Arkus Duntov, the famous Chevrolet guru. The Hemi principle began life as a 60 Cubic inch V8 called the "ARDUN 60", which was used in some Go-Karts Zora had, just to have fun.

Forgive my spelling if I have the names spelled wrong, I'm doing this from memory of a magazine article I read in 1983... I think I still have it in a box somewhere.

So buy a hemi... I'll see you at the gas station, no I take that back.... at EVERY gas station.

Slantsixness
(a slant six is not a hemi?... ok, well your's isn't...:))

If you ever rode in an old hemi, you would completely understand...

ok thanks

Let me just say that there is a reason that ALL top fuel and funny cars run Hemis.

I don't understand why all the older guys think the new Hemi is not a "real" Hemi. What, do you think just because it's not a 426 then it's not a real Hemi? It's basically the same design as the old Hemi's mixed in with the technology of today. In case you didn't know, the first Hemi was a 330ci V8. That's alot smaller than the more popular 426, but it was the same design. The new Hemi performs just as well as the Hemis of old. You get the same kick in the pants, the same throaty growl, the same smile that sweeps across your face. But this is the same debate as what goes on with the new Charger about it being a 4-door sedan and not a 2-door coupe. The old Dodge purists are raising hell because it would tarnish the Charger legacy. Have you forgotten that the last Charger made was a FWD 4-banger? How's that for a legacy? To it's credit, the Shelby versions could very well hold their own agaisnt the V8-powered Camaros and Mustangs of that time. So i ask you...would you rather have a FWD Turbo 4 or a new, RWD Hemi-powered new age muscle car?

Anyways i'm ranting, i need to stop. So let me finish up here before flaming wars commence. The new Hemi is as much of a Hemi as the older 426's and such. It's performance is on par and it's efficency is above that of the previous Hemi's. And for you guys that think the new Hemis can't match the power of the old, keep in mind that the 6.1L Hemi being developed is planned to have well over 400 horsepower. How do ya like them apples?

I think it's just a nice name to hear out of the blue once in awhile. I know it's nothing close to the old hemi's, but at least a kid nowadays can smile and say he rode in a hemi, because his chance of riding in an old one is pretty unlikely.

If you asked me, I'd tell you a 440 with dual quads is a lot of fun, and it is, but a hemi is hard to find nowadays in running order; to me it's kind of like that "holy grail" if you know what I mean...

Don't get me wrong, I've ridden in cars with some pretty big and powerful engines, but there's something about the hemi that is legendary and magical. Being the mopar person that I am, I smile when I think about it, because it was mopar's big gun during the muscle car wars...

I don't consider a new hemi in a pickup to be a real hemi, but it helps to remind me that at least the old times haven't been forgotten, even if the guys that make these things now are just trying to fake it all...

I don't understand why all the older guys think the new Hemi is not a "real" Hemi. What, do you think just because it's not a 426 then it's not a real Hemi? It's basically the same design as the old Hemi's mixed in with the technology of today. In case you didn't know, the first Hemi was a 330ci V8. That's alot smaller than the more popular 426, but it was the same design. The new Hemi performs just as well as the Hemis of old. You get the same kick in the pants, the same throaty growl, the same smile that sweeps across your face. But this is the same debate as what goes on with the new Charger about it being a 4-door sedan and not a 2-door coupe. The old Dodge purists are raising hell because it would tarnish the Charger legacy. Have you forgotten that the last Charger made was a FWD 4-banger? How's that for a legacy? To it's credit, the Shelby versions could very well hold their own agaisnt the V8-powered Camaros and Mustangs of that time. So i ask you...would you rather have a FWD Turbo 4 or a new, RWD Hemi-powered new age muscle car?

Anyways i'm ranting, i need to stop. So let me finish up here before flaming wars commence. The new Hemi is as much of a Hemi as the older 426's and such. It's performance is on par and it's efficency is above that of the previous Hemi's. And for you guys that think the new Hemis can't match the power of the old, keep in mind that the 6.1L Hemi being developed is planned to have well over 400 horsepower. How do ya like them apples?

OK, here's my rant:

First off, the first "hemi's" were 60 cubic inches as I stated before. Second, the first chrysler hemi was a 331, not a 330.

What's the difference between old and new? Do the math. can you speak Big block? Raw power. Not to mention, later advancements to the 426 hemi (not by chrysler) have surpassed this new "hemi" and still continue to be the most awesome source of dragstrip power. Just ask the pros at a track, they'll be glad to explain why, but I doubt they'll give up their secrets.

Us (old?)People are reluctant to consider the new "hemi" as viable, due to the horrible experience that Chrysler put us all through with the 2.6L Hemi. So, we're (the so called old people) going to have to see what happens with this new "hemi", before we just give it any kind of "thumbs up".

I've had three hemi cars (real ones). One was a 331, one a 392, and only one stock 426. The older hemis (331 &392) were extremely troublesome, with vapor locking problems and bending pushrods. The later, 426 hemi performed flawlessly in a '66 belvedere (was a numbers matching car, too.)

I actually campaigned 2.2, 2.5L "shelby" turbo cars. Carrol Shelby needed to desparately stay away from the FWD turbo performance market and go back to his little Ford hole somewhere and play with fake Ford hemis (the cobra jet). He did little more than upholstery and stripes to these cars, including the ones his "team" did. It was a marketing ploy, which didn't work. Anybody with a turbo II daytona, and a $100.00 camshaft could smoke the pants off Carroll's "Shelby"'s.


And I'm NOT old, I still have all my teeth, I don't carry around an oxygen bottle, But, I do remember watching Stock car races where funny looking chargers were eating Fords for lunch Chevy couldn't stay near the top 5, and Charger Daytonas and Superbirds were in the Showrooms, and AMC actually made cars you'd consider driving (but still not owning, just as a rental car...maybe)
I will say, that in the Muscle car hayday's, I was far too young to drive, but I have a picture of me sitting behind the wheel of a brand new '69 superbird in a C/P dealership. It's hemi orange, hemi powered, had a bench seat, and a pistol grip. All I really remember is that my dad wouldn't buy it and it pissed me and my brother off. We got a burnt orange valiant with a slant six. And I still have the motor out of that.

So,
I'll quit ranting too.

:)
Slantsixness

First off, being 18, when i say old i mean around baby-boomer age, late 40's to early 60's. Second, the new Hemi should have your "thumbs up" because it is a very reliable, powerful, and surprisingly fuel efficient engine. It more than deserves the right to be called a Hemi, it has earned it. Don't get me started on the 2.6L. *shudders* Finally, the new Hemi isn't just about introducing a new, more powerful engine to power a truck and two LX cars(for now). You should be happy that Dodge is trying to get back to it's roots, as is Chrysler. Of course it's not going to be the same as it was back when the big blocks ruled the streets (speaking of which, yes i can speak big block, i grew up around big blocks, dirt tracks, drag strips, and anything concerning raw V8 American muscle, I know my roots) but you can't really expect it to be like that, can you? Corporations worry too much about other stuff. But at least Chrysler is trying, and that's what makes me happy, and should make you happy too. A return to RWD, a Hemi under the hood, all we need now is a pistol grip on the floor with some TRUE duals out the back and a blower sticking up out of the hood. Mag wheels would be nice, but you can't have everything i guess. The Charger is coming, albeit a 4-door, but it's coming nonetheless with a 6.1L Hemi. I've heard that Plymouth might be making a comeback also. Times change, this is true, but hey...who says you can't have fun and roll with it?

A 4 door charger is like shooting one self in the foot. You know it was stupid to do right after you did it, but it hurts like hell and you wish you could have just designed the car as a two door, like it HAS to be.

Speaking of that, the F@#$king magnum R/T is a F$%^king station wagon.

But I guess it's cool, I used to like wagons in high school... more room for fun, and the parent's would let you date the girls because they thought it was a family car (yeah, with a mattress in the back and a cooler full of beer!).

Whatever happened to drive in theaters....?!!

A 4 door charger is like shooting one self in the foot. You know it was stupid to do right after you did it, but it hurts like hell and you wish you could have just designed the car as a two door, like it HAS to be.

Speaking of that, the F@#$king magnum R/T is a F$%^king station wagon.

But I guess it's cool, I used to like wagons in high school... more room for fun, and the parent's would let you date the girls because they thought it was a family car (yeah, with a mattress in the back and a cooler full of beer!).

Whatever happened to drive in theaters....?!!

No to mention that it does the 1/4 mile in the 13s. Not bad for a car that weighs over 4,000 pounds. I think the new Hemi is a true Hemi but I agree that the Charger needs to be a coupe. Granted make a four door version, but the R/T NEEDS to be a coupe!

Chrysler should have smartened up years ago and made a sporty RWD V8 car to compete with Mustangs, Camaros, and Firebirds. Now, for my money I'm better off buying a Mustang or something, which I would actually do, just because Chrysler doesn't make a practical car for what I want. If I wanted a RWD V8 car to race Camaros and stuff with, I would have to be 85 years old and loaded enough to buy one of those R/T wagons. It just doesn't work for me. It makes you think how much money that Chrysler lost out on making simply because they didn't produce a car with young people in mind. SRT-4? No thanks, I'm not from Japan.

Race turbo cars. More fun. I loved to see peoples faces when you pass them in some unbadged '81 omni 024 with a later model 2.2 Turbo I..... those were fun days.
Makes me wish I was 16 again.... of course, if I was 16, I'd still have the '70 340 swinger....which was even more fun.
Damn, maybe I should give up on my slant sixes.....
naw, I think not!

if I was 16, I'd still have the '70 340 swinger....which was even more fun.
Damn, maybe I should give up on my slant sixes.....
naw, I think not!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/30794scamp_repaint.jpg
My first car- 74 Scamp w/ the 225. :bananasmi

AWSOME!

My first "car" was a hand-me-down '60 belvedere Station wagon with a 225 and a 3 on the tree. Wish I still had that, what a car!

You still have this Scamp?

Here are my thoughts on this Hemi discussion, All you need to do is talk to someone who was driving muscle cars in the late 60's and early 70's. The Hemi ruled the road and intimidated all the little camaros and mustangs out there. Ask someone who lived it, no one wanted to run their car against a hemi!!

If there was a church for the hemi I would probably frequent it.

What Is so great about slant sixes? They Suck!
V8 is the way to go

You can't kill a slant six if you treat it properly. Even if you didn't treat it properly it would still last a real long time.

While the slant sixes performance was nothing to write home about it was a rock solid engine that could take a hell of a beating.

Actually there was 9 different sizes for the early Hemi engines, De Soto, Dodge and Chrysler each had 3 different Hemi Engine sizes from 1951-1959. For a history of the Hemi Engine checkout www.allpar.com/mopar.html for some interesting reading, they describe the history in pretty good detail about the beginning of the Hemi design they go through all engines past and present including the Hemi Six that was built by Chrysler Australia and the only Hemi V16 that was used for testing in a USAF P-47 Thunderbolt. What they don't mention is that the 2.6 Mitsubishi Engine was ever labled as a Hemi design at least in what I read. Check it out, very interesting reading.

well heres a wrench to throw into the pot.... the new "hemi" isnt even a hemi

Because they are. Even you spelled it with all upper case letters. How many names do you see that are almost always spelled like that?

I owned a 53 DeSoto with the "baby" hemi--276--and if you ever drove it you'd know what we're talking about. That baby just purred, and (when I wanted it to) would get up and go with a touch on the accelerator. I owned "Joey" for 21 years & for 17 of that it was my main transportation. I kept it tuned and the oil changed, and in those 21 years it never required any major engine (or transmission) work. In fact, the car is still running, but I had to sell it cause I couldnt afford to restore it..I just sold it last year. So now you see, it isn't just the power and performance of the hemi, it's also the durability. The engine alone, even for the baby hemi, can be worth $1000 no matter what condition. The slant six comes in second in my opinion, even though I now own a 74 Dodge Dart. Let me know if you ever see a 53 Desoto Firedome V8 Sportsman 2dr hdtp in a car show, if the last 4 vin # are 3024 I used to own it.

well heres a wrench to throw into the pot.... the new "hemi" isnt even a hemi

I don't see it that way, Dual Rocker Shafts, Angled Valves, Hemispherical Combustion Chamber, Spark Plugs in the Center of the Chamber, the only things different I see is a Fuel Injector and the piston crown doesn't go up into the Chamber like the old ones did. Still they are the same basic design. To me it is no different than labeling the higher output Engines the "Magnum" just like the higher performance versions of the standard Engines of old.

Other food for thought, the 3.2/3.5 Liter V6 engines could actually be considered Hemi's too due to the Valve Layout and Plug Location in the Chamber, and the power output they develop, 1 HP per CID for the 93-97 3.5 (214HP/214CID) Cast Iron Block Engines and higher for the 98 3.2 HO (220HP/195CID) and 99-present 3.5 HO (250HP/215CID) Aluminum Block Engines. But they dont classify them as one possibly because of the 4 Valves per Cylinder and the Single Overhead Cam on each head.