posted 09-29-2002 12:07 AM         

Hemi is for real, Chrysler says

To the Editor:

Our engineers are somewhat miffed by the headline on Page 16 of your Aug. 26 issue, "Hemi? Or just a 'semi'?"

Make no mistake, this engine is a true Hemi.

If you look at the main features of Hemi engines that powered Chryslers, Dodges and DeSotos in the 1950s - as well as all versions of that legendary powerhouse made in the 1960s and 1970s - one sees nothing but similarities.

Just to name a few: hemispherical-shaped combustion chambers; pushrod-activated parallel dual rocker shafts and arms; large, opposed intake and exhaust valves; spark plugs(s) in the center of cylinder; rocker cover with spark plug(s) access through a hole in the center of the cover.

Let's examine the word. "Hemisphere" comes from the Greek hemi, meaning one-half, and sphere, meaning circular; or one-half of a circle.

The quench area on the sides of the cylinder are immaterial to calling the engine a Hemi, as the Greeks dealt with the philosophy of whether a geometric shape had to be perfect to be called so.

Aristotle concluded that perfect geometric shapes were possible only in the mind, so the real world was not always exact.

Back to the present. What truly makes our new 5.7-liter V-8 a Hemi is that if you scribe aline through the center of the cylinder from top to bottom, it passes through the center line of both the intake and exhaust valves as they are 180 degrees opposed.

That allows for superior cross-flow efficiency (which is why Hemis make so much power), and the scribe line ends being a half circle, hence hemispherical - thus Hemi.

We hope this puts to rest any "controversy" that may be "swirling" around our new 5.7-liter Hemi engine.

Jan A. Zverina
Director of Product Communications
Chrysler Group
Auburn Hills, MI

posted 09-29-2002 12:15 AM         

Way to go Jan!!! SOCK it to 'em!

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posted 09-29-2002 02:32 PM         

dreaming.....would really like to have an all aluminum 5.7 HEMI in my cat...oh what a special dream

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Larry & Sue Mayes

posted 09-30-2002 03:39 AM         

quote:

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Originally posted by WildCat:
Hot Rod this month has an article on the new HEMI. Several drawings of the NEW HEMI HEAD and the differences of the old hemi head

dreaming.....would really like to have an all aluminum 5.7 HEMI in my cat...oh what a special dream

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posted 10-07-2002 07:33 PM         

The 5.7 Hemi isn't a race motor the 426 was. It will be more like the 271, 354, 392 Hemis of the 50's. A strong motor to move massive amounts of weight.

I have a 5.9 turbo diesel Ram. Tons of torque, but no race motor. Hook it to a trailer and then see what it will do. A friend bought one in `93 and said it was slow, then he hauled grain wagons up a hill that weighed in @25,000 lbs. He was a believer in the diesel after that.

Same with the 5.7 HEMI. Hook it up to test it. The torque will answer the question of WHAT DOES IT HAVE? It was explained this past weekend as more torque than GM's best 8.1 LT gas engine. Not a race truck it is a heavy duty GRUNT truck. Now will they put it in a light weight truck like 1/2 ton or even better a DAKOTA

Let's see if they can make it into a race motor This motor will be made into an aluminum block for cars in `04 if what I have read is correct. CROSS YOUR FINGERS

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Larry & Sue Mayes