Hemi, is it for real?

[jlistunner]

Question to anybody that knows. I have a friend that informed me that the engines that have the, so called, Hemi in them are false. That Dodge is using the term, "Hemi", just for marketing. I guess Hemi was introduced some years back and it pertains to the curvature of the top of the piston in the engine. He states that the, so called, Hemi engines in today's Ram and other Dodge products does not have this curvature on the pistons and therefore are not truely Hemi engines. Anyone able to put some light on this? I am just curious.

[BleedDodge]

Firstly, the heads are curved in the old motors, not the pistons. The term "hemi" refers to the shape of the combustion chamber. A hemisphere is one half section of a circle.

I've never seen the internals of a new motor so I can't tell you anything about that. I heard that some car magazine tore one down and said it wasn't a real hemi, but I don't know any details on that.

[jlistunner]

Thank you for the correction to my information. I knew that the term Hemi came from hemishpere and that that in turn means half circle. I couldn't remember what engine part it was focused on. Thanks again for the clarification and the info.

[NaKeDZX]

Here's some good info on it. It goes into the cylinder heads about half way down the page. They look hemispherical to me....

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/new-mopar-hemi.html

[Skyline_BNR34]

as far as im concerned they look like a hemi to me

[jlistunner]

Thank you. I will gladly provide this information to my buddy who told me about it. Again, thanks for the information.

[jlistunner]

This is a section taken directly from the link mentioned earlier by NaKeDZX:

Every person we've contacted who has driven a Hemi has been impressed by its power - and the economy beats the much less powerful 360 it replaces. However, the proportion of regulated pollutants is a problem for Chrysler. Bob Sheaves noted:

The Hemi design combustion chamber is one of the poorest designs for emissions - why do you think it took so long to get it into production? It almost did NOT make emissions test requirements even with the modifications. ... Today's Hemi is that (a "Hemi") in name only. [Editor's note: Bob is referring to the head design. It is not a true hemispherical head, but looks vaguely like a hemispherical head with parts filled in.]

[NaKeDZX]

Good catch, I didn't read the whole thing.

[Skyline_BNR34]

I guess they aren't Hemis, Stupid fucking Dodge.

[jgeib]

Originally Posted by Skyline_BNR34

I guess they aren't Hemis, Stupid fucking Dodge.

Stupid? They created another great engine package that kicks the crap out of any "Vortec" or "Triton" motor of equivalence. What's so stupid about that. So what if "Hemi" is a semi marketing tool. It's still a great engine! Everyone just needs to get over pointing fingers. Have you driven one? If the answer is no, then shut up!

[jlistunner]

From what I have read, this is still a mean peace of motor. Plenty of HP and torque. The MDS technology is fascinating (go from using 8 cylinders to 4). I realize they supplied this great technology just for economic reasons (make the buyer feel that their wallet wasn't going to be hit too hard -- saving 3 mpg! whoa!!). I guess in these times where gas prices are so high, that small savings adds up. Just from some of the forums I have read, having a HEMI is a big deal and I understand. I would boast too if I had one, but I don't.

[Skyline_BNR34]

Hey dodge is my favorite company and I meant by saying stupid was because it wasn't a true hemi. But the new "HEMI" makes more power than the old one and its a 5.7 liter the old one was 5.9 liter so it's all good.

[dirty dan]

It's a Hemi. Valves on opposite sides, hemispherical heads. Just not the same hemi as before. It's like saying that the Mazda rotary engine is not a wankel because it's not identical to the old engine.
Your friend's just jealous!

[young_mechanic]

I may be too young to understand your point of view but i hate all new model cars ('99 and up) in that they all try to go new age with these sharp body styles small ricer engines and all that plastic crap on the car's body.
I love older cars, I drive a 1982 chevy silverado and dream of a 68-72 Dodge Dart Swinger with the 340 small block, and just despise the new GTO and Charger.
I mean what was dodge thinking when they made an oversized cavalier called the GTO and a 4-door CHARGER , i mean who makes a 4-door muscle car?
I don't believe the charger was created for the soccer mom dropping off her kids at school.
And these new Hemi's just don't live up to their status quo of the older ones.
I do agree that it is "perky" but what does these new ricer people know?
If its a v-8 they might just wet thereselves with this extra block on the engine.
My question is if these companies want to be original and look different then why do they design all their car's the same and where have the chrome bumpers and trim gone?