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426 Hemi - what makes this V8 engine so revered

In Soggybottoms England. The Rover was the next best thing. :D
 
"they're not as efficient as a proper set of stainless steel extractors"
(the cast iron exhaust manifolds)

Hard to get used to the road shots with cars coming toward it on the right side of the road.
 
1964 Daytona 500, Petty was so dominant throughout that season that NASCAR changed their rules. The new rule said you couldn’t run an engine without offering a street version of it. With no street version available the 426 Hemi was dropped during the 1965 season. While my new hemi is strong and is called a Hemi, name one engine other than the 426 that when you pulled up against it, you could already feel your second place pat on the back. It's about the history that came with it!
 
"When it comes to performance, the Hemi turns on when the others turn off".
 
Breathing is everything when it comes to engines. Nothing breathes better than a Hemi. That Limey was lucky to get back to the shop without gassing up though since twin 4 bbls can make for short trips when you only have a 15 gallon tank.
 
It's the history now
the looks, the size, nickname Elephant
the performance 'it' can be made to have
wasn't originally but;
every T/F & F/C has a Chrysler "Hemi" based powerplant now

in the 'street/muscle car world'
it still doesn't get the respect it deserves
they are 'a lot more rare' than like for an example
a SS-454 70 Chevelle or a 67 427 Tri-power Vette
but don't usually get the same price range,
unless it's a 1 of 3 or 1 of 1, ultra low miles
or in some hoity toidy persons' collection, for sale at an auction
for the umpteenth time
 
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NASCAR and NHRA had to outlaw it so the Chevy big block could win races. I think that says it all.
 
NHRA effectively outlawed it by creating weight requirements based on the brand engine being used.
They did it not only to the MoPar Hemi but to all engines to make it appear "fair". It quickly became obvious. Run a MoPar and you get a weight handicap.
 
Nothing like the smell, sound and brute force of a Hemi once it starts to breathe!! Unbelievable!
 
I believe that the HEMI got its big push because of the Commercials of the guy in the Dodge pickup ( with a hemi) beating the car next to him in a drag race while towing the charger with the hemi in it...... GREAT Commercial..
"OH, you meant the Charger"....LOL
 
"When it comes to performance, the Hemi turns on when the others turn off".

THIS^^^^

And no other mass produced engine draws the crowd like it when you open the hood


they are B E A U T I F U L to behold.

engine-1.jpg
 
"name one engine other than the 426 that when you pulled up against it, you could already feel your second place pat on the back."

Fords' 429 Boss. It actually won more NASCAR
sanctioned events than the 426 did, though only
by very few. Gotta give credit, where credit is
due.
The 426 will always hold it's place as one of the
most "brute force" engines ever built. It's
understandable as to why they're so revered.
Where it truly shines is on the dragstrip.
Flame away if you must, but I too, love the
sound and performance of a big block Mopar.
 
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I never thought about it... but 1964 might have been the first year NASCAR stopped running “stock” cars. The Hemi wasn’t available on any products at in ‘64. And only race versions in ‘65. And why they said Chrysler couldn’t run it.
 
I ran against a few Boss 429's on the street back in the day. They had potential modified but were outclassed in stock form. That's the way it was. Hemi would run hard with a tunnel ram but it wasn't necessary, it was on a Boss 9.
 
Volumetric Efficiency. Mighty Mopar.
 
"name one engine other than the 426 that when you pulled up against it, you could already feel your second place pat on the back."

Fords' 429 Boss. It actually won more NASCAR
sanctioned events than the 426 did, though only
by very few. Gotta give credit, where credit is
due.
The 426 will always hold it's place as one of the
most "brute force" engines ever built. It's
understandable as to why they're so revered.
Where it truly shines is on the dragstrip.
Flame away if you must, but I too, love the
sound and performance of a big block Mopar.

1 year Ford 26 & 11 in a row, to 22 Mopar races IIRC
the Ford Boss 429 semi-hemi, was outlawed
some time after Daytona 1970, IIRC mid-season
Chevy was up in arms about it too, they were the benifactors
France family was a Ford family
(any hemi, had a weight penalty or had a 305cid limited, MoPar & Ford)

it did win Talladega (in 3 Talladega's by Holman Moony, 1,2 & 3)
IIRC on it's debut 1968
in cars that were never truly Homoligated,
France family let it go for a time
they did put the min. less than 500 #, in Mustangs,
but only a few Fairlane-Torino GTs (FB)/Cyclones/Talladega

IIRC Boss 429 engine, it won like 40 races total in Nascar
top teer, Grand Nationals
they were all one-off, none were body in white deliveries
or factory-built, Holman Moony built them

it was all grey area, typical back door deals,
Teams trying to skirt the rules (if you're not cheatin', you're not trying)
put a bunch of Boss 429 semi-hemis in the Mustangs
so they can get the 500#
Mustangs can't/or couldn't back then race Nascar, Grand Nationals
not long enough wheelbase or weights
They were also not built by Ford, they were farmed out also
to Car Craft IIRC

Ford's Boss 429, it was outlawed in NHRA
because it had greater bore spacing
like 4.85" in pro classes anyway
(it was more than the sanctioning body allowed, by like 0.100")
 
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