426 Hemi: The Greatest of all time OR Overrated? We take a look back and let you decide...

Today on Unity Motorsports Garage we showcase the Legendary status of Mopar's 426 Hemi from its humble beginnings as a Nascar Superstar to today's 10,000 plus Horsepower Top Fuel cars of Today... is it the Greatest of all time... OR OVERRATED?? you be the judge...
get your Unity Motorsports Garage Merch
shop.unitymotorsportsgarage.com
#nascar #mopar #hemi #dragracing

[@BROCKWOOD64]

Remember the ads where Chrysler thanked their competition for also running Chrysler Hemis?!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

I have a copy of that ad! Thanks for watching Andy

[@KurtfromLaQuinta]

@@UnityMotorSportsGarageme too!

[@turdferguson4124]

I remember a Plymouth magazine ad from 1967 showing a #43 Plymouth Belvedere being hauled down the road on a trailer: “The only chance you’ll ever get to pass Richard Petty’s Hemi.”

[@christophersanders5007]

I have only owned one Hemi engine in my life. It was in a low budget blown alcohol funny car that I had back in the late 80's through early 90's. It was a 500 Cubic inch Keith Black bottom end with Bill Miller pistons 0-gap rings, Lunati cam, Brad Anderson first gen fat heads, and intake manifold. The blower was a Mert Littlefield high helix with an Enderle fuel injection, and a Crower glide clutch. It was tuned way down only running one mag, one set of plugs and only about 38-degrees all in timing at 3800 RPM. The blower was only running 15% overdrive. It could run in the 7's all day long at about 180 MPH at around 4800 RPM. All I would do is change the oil, and run the valves. I could get about 100 runs down the 1/4 mile before having to put a new set of piston rings and valve keepers on it.

[@jamesblair9614]

You bet I enjoyed it Andy! It’s great, and here’s a little known fact. At the 1971 US Nationals in Indianapolis, Chrysler became the only manufacturer in history to sweep every single class, from AA/Fuel to Stock and everything in between, a feat never to be repeated. All those engines were iron blocks, built for cars, trucks and industrial applications. One of those engines was a Max Wedge, and all the rest were Hemi’s. It was late 1971, production of the Hemi had just ceased, what a way to go out!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

That is impressive! Thanks for the info.. I'm glad you enjoyed it and Thanks again for watching Andy

[@LoneWrencher]

by 1971 the musclecar era was ALMOST ready to wind down. i like 66-70 musclecars

[@jamesswain1586]

Nothing looks more bad ass than seeing a 426 sitting under the hood of what ever model and the spark plug wires sitting in the middle of those monster Valve covers. 2 4 barrel carbs on a crossram manifold or in line manifold. The HEMI is KING

[@user-yh1nc3zk2b]

Bought a 69 Superbee Hemi in 69. Got drafted 3 days later and sold it while in basic training. I had big plans for it. Headers, gears, better tires. It ran Pure Stock 13.70's at Milan Dragway the day before I reported for duty. It ran good - yes. I did get beat by a 427 impala with gears, headers and better tires. The one thing I think Chrysler could have done better was compression. 10.25:1. All the other Mfg were running 11:1 compression. Imagine what a difference that would have made

[@outlawbillionairez9780]

I was already a licensed driver in 1968 So. Cal. It was all 1/4 mile and street racing. The 426 was tough to beat. Thanks for the memory lane!

[@idontcare3013]

Greatest street motor? No. Greatest race motor? Absolutely, without a doubt.

[@michaelwdagle7410]

Greatest drag racing motor. No a single endurance racing victory I can think of except for NASCAR.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Yup... 440's easier to drop into an engine bay and cheaper to get parts for... have you priced 426 aluminum hemi heads compared to 440 heads?

[@jimandersen3003]

@@michaelwdagle7410 Advantage over all other non OHC engines. Like the Daytona Charger aerodynamics. Boss 429 hit the field and both became illegal.

[@professorginz2379]

@@michaelwdagle7410 YES! The Ford DFW-probably best F1 motor, Offenhauser-probably the best Indy Motor, although the short pushrod Mercedes Penske driven by Emerson Fittipaldi totally dominated, and I think the very best example of cheating-not cheating in motorsports history.

[@rickgehring7507]

@@michaelwdagle7410 I haven't seen too many 11k HP endurance engines, no one ever needed one to run a whole season. can you build a 426 style hemi to make 1000k Hp NA and run a season of F1, yes it can be done but it wouldn't competitive or legal for that matter. In a different reality If Ferrari built the V8 push rod 426 Hemi you best better believe those F1 engineers would have a 20k hour capable version. I've done a few for Baja 1000 over the past 20 years , and 6 for the Dakar rally all have made the trip.

[@markwise9868]

The '64 Hemi's were the Best, IMO. They were aluminum headed, magnesium crossrammed beasts that made close to 600 hp by some accounts. They were known as race Hemis but still came down the factory assembly lines! Those early B bodies were running really low 11's in 3,500 lbs. cars which was spectacular back then! The later version "street Hemi" was just a dumbed down version for the general public.

[@hotrodray6802]

15 yrs ago we restored an aluminum 64 Plymouth red Savoy post car 426 that hadn't been started since 65. And I got to do it... 😁😁What a story I have to tell. 👍👍😎 Long story short, it was # 6 of only 5 known to exist. Yes 6. Car is fully documented since new. Kept its existence a secret until the car was restored and running.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Very good video. The greatest? Maybe, but it was expensive and rare. There were a jillion Big Block Chevrolet's in Chevelles, Station wagons, they were common. The 426 Hemis were very rare.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

To think there were less than 10k street hemis produced from 1966-1971.. Rare indeed! Thanks for watching Greg.. That intercooler fit like a glove on DV's mustang! Andy

[@thomasward4505]

There were also about 5 million big block Chryslers sold, 383 and 440s which is probably less than Chevrolet since GM has always been the largest car manufacturer. A ZL1 Chevrolet big block was definitely a badass engine but I doubt they sold more than a couple thousand

[@justinschmidt9180]

Nobodoy cares about chevys there boring. If the chevys dont win the rules always had to change

[@rotorr22]

Greatest fuel motor, to be sure. Great seeing your historical vids back, Andy!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Thanks, I'm going to get back to doing them.. I've just been busy! Andy

[@rolandotillit2867]

The Hemi engine is utterly dependent on piston crown for squish, it's an engine with the theoretically highest potential, but it's also one of the hardest to get right, it's a definitely an engine for tolerance masochists.

[@danielsacks7152]

Squish has nothing to do with its performance. Talk to some Hemi builders they will laugh at that...literally! The engine's detonation resistance is legendary even with flat top pistons. Beware of quoting "common knowledge " heard elsewhere.

[@rolandotillit2867]

@@danielsacks7152 Squish/quench has nothing to do with performance? When the Hemi head has no quench pad like the semi-hemi? Can you explain why squish/quench from the piston crown has no influence on performance? Do you know that flat top pistons aren't typically used on Hemi engines? The squish/quench is formed by the piston crown itself, which is why deck, and head install height makes such a difference.

[@gprimeofx]

I love all engines, big and small, but on my list of the greatest race engines of all time, the 426 HEMI stands head and shoulders above all others.

[@mikedimaio1237]

Having bought my first street hemi a couple of years ago, all I can say is, the legend is real, ZERO disappointments and changing plugs compared to a wedge with headers, no brainer, save up for the hemi.

[@jimandersen3003]

Couple years ago? They quit selling them in cars 50 years ago!

[@GLHS592]

@@jimandersen3003 You're right. Nobody sells used cars or aftermarket engines.

[@thomasward4505]

You are right about the spark plug situation, and even though a Hemi is a wider engine I think it actually fits better in certain bodies because of the spark plug and header orientation like in a Dodge Dart

[@440Nichole]

Love the hemi but I’ll stick with my 440 :)

[@bgjb-r1499]

A purely stock hemi in a charger or GTX was very beatable. As a teenager (1979) I remember a race between a 1970 Camaro with a 427 - .373 gears - automatic with B&M shift kit & 2500rpm stall speed converter. The other guy had a Hemi challenger - single 4bbl - .410 gears - 4 speed with a competition clutch. I was only 16 years old and remember the race not being close. The Camaro won by at least 2, maybe 3 car lengths. The difference was rpm’s! The 427 seemed to accelerate much faster and revved higher.

[@theshed8802]

The Hemi is a legend regardless of what you think about. They have their problems, as Don found out. Needing that much advance, tells you that the combustion chamber design isn't very efficient, but they got it to work well enough.

[@dondotterer24]

Awesome video Andy. Thanks for the hard work!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it Andy

[@jimmyg8338]

Best video iv seen in a while, Good job, Andy

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching Andy

[@hoost3056]

The 426 Hemi is the greatest motorsport engine of all time; on the street though, the larger wedge and semi hemi engines gave the Street Hemi a hard time. Those big ports didnt start making life until the mid and upper ranges, so unless you put in some stiff gears and a looser convertor, the big block wedge cars usually got out on them.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Yeah it took a sharply tuned Hemi car to beat the 440 cars on the street.. but the Hemi definitely had more potential! Andy

[@hoost3056]

@UnityMotorSportsGarage Amen, Brother. A Six Pack was just as quick, but the Hemi Slayer was the Buick 455 Stage I. I remember when Bob Lasseter proved that point back in the day in a Hemi/Stage I shootout that Hot Rod Magazine did in the 80s. Folks forget it's the shape of the torque curve that wins races ( along with the overall combo ). Your 2V/nitrous mod motor makes more torque where it matters.

[@steveash9831]

@@hoost3056 I laugh every time some fool calls Buick's P.O.S. a Hemi-killer! If they were so great, why aren't they in every Top Fuel rail and funny car today?! It's because it was a myth based on one fake race. Buicks are junk!

[@hk45c62]

​​@@hoost3056 , " Semi Hemi". That term makes me chuckle. The Wannabe 429. Ford, as a company, would have been better off building the 427 FE with the Tunnel Port heads instead of the not so BOSS 429. The FE series big blocks already fit into the Mustangs and Torinos without any extra hassle and were already a proven winner on dragstrips and circle tracks.

[@lindsaymcpherson4744]

I believe there hasn't been the same grass roots aftermarket support as for the chevy and Ford crowd. I'm a chevy guy but would love to run a naturally aspro Hemi before the lights get turned off !

[@Killmaro1320]

The race HEMI is the undisputed King of muscle car engines.

[@ThirteenTwentyRepair]

So much more to the Hemi then mentioned in this great video. It has also won trophies in boat racing, rallye racing, and used in many monster trucks today.

[@mattbauckman9907]

Most monster trucks are running big block Chevy’s. 540 cubic inch, alcohol.

[@jackgtx440]

Don’t forget sled pulling. And also salt flat racing.

[@averymacleod6199]

Even one experimental one was used in can am style racing and was designed for Richard petty in 1965 ish but he never drove it. It won some races also in a few series I think

[@johnhennery8820]

Great video thanks for sharing this with us keep up the great work ❤

[@michaelnatoli2539]

That was a great video. Great job on the accurate narration

[@stevewelborn8744]

My opinion is the hemi is the best engine when a lot of boost is in the mix. Top fuel for sure. When it comes to N/A canted valve heads are the best. Just my opinion. You can not get the compression as high with the hemi cylinder head. Thats the only negative.

[@bluesky-ud9wg]

100% correct. The Hemi is lazy without boost. A Hemi head is really made for boost, it wasn't planned that way of course but it just is. Hemi's are lazy down low, they also have a very narrow power band. When you add boost, it is a different animal completely

[@jackgtx440]

@@bluesky-ud9wgTell me you don’t know what you’re talking about without telling me you don’t know what you’re talking about. The HEMI I built in my 69 road runner had explosive response all over the rpm band and pulled like an absolute freight train up top and never wanted to stop. Everyone always has these opinions of HEMI’s on the internet and they’ve probably never owned one or even ridden in one.

[@bluesky-ud9wg]

@@jackgtx440 You know Nothing about my background, my career, what I do for a living. I guarantee I know much more about engine, different type of engines, efficiency, etc. Anything else?

[@jackgtx440]

@@bluesky-ud9wg how many HEMI’s do you have experience with? To say a HEMI is lazy without boost and has a narrow power band is absurd.

[@bluesky-ud9wg]

@@jackgtx440 You won't listen to me so what the point? You believe what you believe and everyone else is wrong. Take care

[@nhra7110]

Great video, Andy! yep, it's the GOAT. Also, the Ramchargers already knew the what the optimum ignition timing needed for the Gen 2 on nitro was a year or more before Garlits discovered it, hence their domination. They weren't sharing, because they knew it would get figured out soon enough.

[@jamesblair9614]

That’s a fact that seems to get overlooked, if the Ramchargers could do it, it was a matter of experimentation until they found the right combinations.

[@waynetaylor8082]

As it relates to "Bill France outlawing the SOHC and the Doomsday HEMI," in actually NASCAR mandated that ANY engine raced had to be an option for the public. Which at that time, required 500 copies. Both Ford and Chrysler shelved their HEMIs for NASCAR in 1965. Ford went on to dominate NASCAR that year. Forcing Chrysler to offer the 426 Street HEMI as an option in '66. At approximately $1,000 it was quite expensive at the time. In comparison the 427 SOHC was about $10,000 a copy. Much too expensive for a production option considering a decent new car cost about $3,000-4,000. It was largely for monetary reason that today we have 426 Street HEMIs and we don't have 427 Street SOHCs. I wish it had played out differently.

[@rotaxtwin]

Nice little history lesson, thanks for putting this summary together, Andy. Seems HEMI has some big marketing power today but it was years in the making.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.. Marketing goes a long way! Andy

[@alvinprettyman1802]

thanks for posting enjoyed the video spent my formative years reading about this stuff.

[@bluecollarperformance1331]

Great video,I really enjoyed that one

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

Thanks for the video!

[@magnetocheck]

Great video, thanks for compiling all this great stuff.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

I'm glad you enjoyed it Thanks for watching Andy

[@reevesautomotivefarm9614]

Very well done video

[@waynebenedict5785]

The greatest race engine, copy's are still the kings of the nitro classes! Street versions needed a lot of love to live when ran hard.

[@VORTECPRO]

Good video!

[@347mav3]

The greatest racing engine to date.

[@j1974f]

Great video!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it Andy

[@dylanarnold4487]

What a great vidja Andy. I really like these kind of vidja’s. I grown up thinking these motors where the best then when time goes on there where dogs and now I back of thinking there the best again. Much love 🤙🏼awwwoooo

[@NoralBlundell]

Thanks that was excellent 💯👍🦘

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it Andy

[@deanstevenson6527]

Greatest ever. It may not have been the most reliable or refined production engine, but it had rods, CFM flow, Detonation resistance and potentially, the best block configuration. The problem was cracking. It was the rebound and the fixing of the basic casting by the aftermarket. The sump, oiling, stock carburetion settings, maybee they weren't perfect, but as a Nitro and supercharged drag race engine...that was the spit on the basic Ivory Tusks of the Elephant Motor.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

I agree Dean, it had the bones to grow on.. Every engine has its problems but this engine paved the way in many regards.. Andy

[@vincentenk4449]

Was & still is! Thanks Andy! Now when are we gonna see a W/2 head small block from ya?! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@antilaw9911]

DLI owns a Ball stud Hemi.

[@professorginz2379]

While I am not knocking the Hemi, it's the engine I raced with in Nostalgia Top Fuel (392) and Top Fuel. (BAE). But, for the last 20 to 30 years the rules have been written specifically to keep this engine at the top of the heap. NHRA protects the established teams from being forced to retool. The expense of doing so would force some teams out of business. in Top Alcohol, when the Spaghetti Bender car, with a SBC, began beating up on the Hemi cars, NHRA hung so much weight on it that it had no chance of winning. In Nostalgia Top Fuel, the winning-est car of all, CHAMPION SPEED SHOP, ran a SBC for many years. NHRA did not have a hand in those rules, so the better engine won . For NTF I chose the 392 Hemi because the 426 was not permitted at that time, and the 392 is probably the easiest engine of all to service between rounds. I traveled with a very small crew, so this was very important. 10 nuts would have the valve train off, retaining all adjustments, and the cylinder head off. No Ford or Chevy even came close to this simplicity. As soon as the McGee engine (a beautiful piece of engineering) was becoming competitive, NHRA outlawed it. The Whipple blower; outlawed. The Hemi is a fine engine, it dominates because the rules are written to make it so.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

That is very interesting I would like to hear more! Andy

[@danmyers9372]

Very good points. I quit following NHRA and started attending nostalgia events about 15-20 years ago. I now enjoy the No Prep racing because of the amount of innovation. NHRA has just gotten too stale and boring for me. My only complaint with the nostalgia racing was with the Top fuel cars. As you know better than I the rear gear and short tire makes the cars rev too high through the lights leading to way too many engine failures. Too expensive for the racers and frustrating for us spectators.

[@randylear8264]

Well how much horse power do you need. The HEMI has no problem making it. So I am not so sure what more another engine could improve on and still improve the time? I believe traction is the problem not hp. I just don’t know what other engine made would surpass it?

[@Mike_Collins392]

That is cool !!! The early Chrysler design is really simple and they run strong , certainly the best design of that era . I still see some early iron blocks on KZbin and a couple of Donovan 417's still making noise . Would love to see an aftermarket 392 iron block but no one seems to want to see that project through I guess. The FirePower is getting dim fellers .

[@mattbauckman9907]

@@randylear8264 The Chevy LS.

[@morrischoo9717]

The piston top area is high for more exposure to downforce on ignition. The central ignition area envelopes around and down towards the circumference and into the ringlands for a seal. Imo. And the cross flow and valve window exposure are two benefits. Simple , reliable in bock cam design made it less costly than the Cammer and other variants.

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

Well done, Mr. Wood!!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Thanks Brother, hope all is well your way Andy

[@bobjohnson7207]

I'm a Chevy guy whom has never losta race to a Hemi. Having said that Ford's late 1960's Winston Cup engine would flow more air. Just ask Ricard or David.

[@georgedakil3506]

It's the GOAT for sure. We'll done, a Great biography of the 426 HEMI!!

[@justinschmidt9180]

In drag racing it is the greatest of all time hands down . Great video

[@brokentoolgarage8609]

Great video! 426 Hemi is certainly an iconic race engine. FTO this Friday, are you going to be there?

[@MrADVANCEDTEK]

Still having it's core design being used in most if not all of the fastest top fuel cars today, continuing the legacy would make it the greatest for me. It's the tank of engines. You have guns and knives for hand to hand but a tank is the epitome of close combat. Need the most explosive power for weight and size it's the Hemi. From the first Hemi til today spanning all those years it never fell to side in ways of newer engine types. There are better engines for day to day and the Hemi covers just about all of them with many standouts in automotive. Restarting the modern muscle car era in 2003 with it's return. Yeah Ford had the Modular DOHC engine in 93 that can be given the initial return of engine designs started in the 60's muscle car era. But the 2003 Hemi was a craze and it's catch phrase was iconic. Soon came the 2005 Mustang with it's classic 60's styling then it was muscle Pony cars. Hellcat engines took over as the main tittle of model. It's a Hellcat Charger or Hellcat Cherokee. No engine can took the name of a car like the Hemi. Maybe the new 5.0 but it's called a Coyote more then just 5.0. It's sad to see it go but it's going to carry on with millions made so it's light is far from out.

[@thomasward4505]

Yes Andy that is a great video and I know you are a Ford man so thank you for making it. And I know Ford made some very high performance engines also but their numbers were fairly small compared to the 426 Hemi. Chevrolet made a bunch of high performance engines also but same situation, very few sold.

[@MrR6guy]

Less regulation and 2 or 3 more years of muscle car wars and engine development by the big 3 and who knows what would have been developed! Thanks EPA

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Exactly! Thanks for watching Andy

[@9ijnht5rdx]

Ronnie Sox drove so well he almost didn't need a tach.

[@tonyprosick6558]

Awesome engine downright proven dependability as well as true performance engineering marvel

[@treyrags]

A great engine for its era. We ran one in NHRA Modified Eliminator from 69 to 75 and won many divisional races and a few national races andset national records. But Chrysler backing and research and development went away in the early 70's. By the end of '75 we could not keep up with the GM and Ford advancements and sadly were forced to move over to the GM camp and later to Ford. The Hemi had a good run

[@alexgrindnshine2522]

Cool story. It’s shame Chrysler didn’t keep up with their development and stay relevant. We are seeing it happen all over again. They built following of enthusiast, and brand loyalty that will soon be lost with all the changes they making.

[@treyrags]

@@alexgrindnshine2522 to make matters worse NHRA started putting weight on Hemis and Clevelands in Pro Stock in the early 70' to "level the playing field". They had to weigh 7.3 lbs per cubic inch where the other brands were 7.0 lbs per cube. So even on a small inch engine like a 331 the Chevy and Amc boys were 100 pounds lighter. By the late 70's all the competitive Hemi guys gave up and Glidden pretty much was the only Cleveland guy left simply because he outworked and spent exhaustive r & d time to stay ahead of the advancements of the huge number of GM guys.

[@alexgrindnshine2522]

@@treyrags man that sucks! Correct me if I am wrong here. Seems like Chrysler and Ford were truly trying to compete and innovate and Chevy was just complain to get the rules change to favor them? Chevy has huge amount of market share in the racing world I know they’re probably the number one choice in most race applications, but makes you wonder if their fame was fairly gained.

[@fortyshooter1]

The HEMI the GREATEST ! My brother was hard workin and lucky enough to order a new 1970 Hemicuda which we picked up July of 1970. He was 20 and I 16...what a Summer of FUN battling it out every evening at the Stoplight Drags on the blvd. We beat a 1969 Yenko 427 Chevelle 3 out of 3 on the street and set a D/SA record for a couple weeks at the local strip.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

That is an awesome story! Thanks for watching I'm glad you enjoyed the video Andy

[@12v71detroit]

back in the day you knew it was a hemi car because the nose sat high and the starter was touching the ground

[@paulmartin7381]

Although it didn't beat the 426 hemi, the Ford 351 Cleveland was the best engine in racing. Winning in NHRA, NASCAR, and on the streets!

[@tomweimer3419]

Goat without a doubt !!!

[@littlewarlock9361]

U have 2 give Tom hoover and the belgiums lot of credit. That design follows what mother nature designed and it works but that design is rpm and lift limited. Is that why they no longer rule pro stock?

[@jamielombardo5292]

My shorty Dodge Ram has a Hemi and it's a pleasure to drive it's all that matters to me

[@pizzandoughnutspage7817]

Was it the greatest engine ever? Depends on who you ask.

[@srt8rocketship241]

You can dial the power up on the gen 2 hemi 426 to great heights and it loves it.

[@lifestream4191]

Chrysler seems to always be doing ridiculous things. V10 Viper and Viper truck. Cummins engine pickup trucks. The new hemi supercharged charger and challenger. Putting the Hellcat engine in all sorts of vehicles. The 1,000 HP car… crazy stuff when others put a 454 in a pickup truck that won’t pull a sick whore off a commode seat.

[@johnmollet2637]

Let me preface this by stating that I have no experience with the Hemi. I think it was one of the all time greats as a competition engine but my Dad would always say the the 440 would kick it's backside on the street until the very end of the race.

[@dr.detroit1514]

The word with the 426 Street Hemi, was Potential. With 10.25/1 compression, and a mild cam, the Street Hemi was tuned from the factory relatively tame. Taken to extremes, I believe it was the top Dog horsepower engine. Anything over 11/1, I consider to be a racing tune engine, like the solid lifter Chevies. The L88 was an out and out full racing engine, in full race tune, that the factory was able to put in the street Corvette. What would have been fantastic, is if Chrysler would have installed the Race HEMI as a special regular production engine option in the street cars. As far as I've seen, the stock Street HEMI was a little less than 500hp, properly tuned, while the cross ram Race HEMI was around 630. L88, 560-580. These numbers are from what I remember from I've read in the past, could be wrong. There was a White Race Hemi Road Runner with slicks that showed up one night trailered into the Big Boy parking lot on Woodward, this was where I was hanging out Saturday nites in the late 70's early 80's. I don't remember if it was a Super Stock, or what it was. When asked how much power it made, he said; "Between 850, and 9".

[@rexyoshimoto4278]

426 Hemi? Greatest of all time. (GOAT).

[@johnnilsson3153]

The Hemi is a Hemi. Has never been beat and never will it be. Thats a fact

[@danmyers9372]

Obviously a Blow Parts fan.

[@johnnilsson3153]

I only street raced them. No blown engines or big parts. A couple of u joints and 3 or 4 gearboxes.

[@bluecollarcook]

I love my Hemi!

[@mrmoparrr]

🐐

[@thomaslynch2083]

All the Hemi are the best

[@bobkonradi1027]

Well. the Chrysler 426 hemi certainly lends itself well to very extensive power adders, more so than any other engine. Chevy 454s, Ford 427 SOHC Cammers, anybody else's engine. They got the stoutest blocks, able to handle obscene amounts of power, and heads that can flow more air, hence more power produced, than anybody else. For Starters, the Ford FE blocks used for the SOHC 427s can't take massive power adders, thus reducing their versatility. Then, with the SOHC design, their spark plugs are moved over to the sides, to the outer edges of the combustion chamber, creating deficiencies. With BBCs, their wedge design limits power. The only deficiency of the 426 hemi is that with their complicated rocker arm design, they can't rev as high as the BBCs and BBFs. With the 426 hemis in top fuel use, even with 60 pounds boost from the superchargers and with obscene loads of nitromethane, they still struggle above 84-8500 rpm. They're still the engine to beat, and nobody has been able to do this.

[@danielsacks7152]

Actually, the valvetrain issue being a limitation is a fable. Modern Gen 2 blown hemis routinely wind to 11,500. Top end rpm is where they shine. Top fuel is limited on rpm by rules. 60 psi boost ain't much.

[@ragingbull3406]

The 426 Hemi is the big block GOAT, the 351 Cleveland is the small block GOAT. End of story. They were both either banned and/or made to add weight in racing because they were hard to beat.

[@ThirteenTwentyRepair]

Love the Hemi, I agree the Boss 351 was the baddest small block of the muscle car era.

[@vincentenk4449]

Yup! Now when you this a set of W/2s into the mix, well...

[@sickboystang]

I'm glad you mentioned the Cleveland, so few people have any idea what those engines were capable of. They sat on top of the small block for a looonngg time.

[@srt8rocketship241]

I had a pair of 4 barrel 351 Cleveland heads many moons ago. You could easily see the difference between them and the 2 barrel counterparts. The W2 heads have legendary flow numbers as well. Look into it. Nowadays many things have changed though. I love the early engines. Fun to work on.

[@sickboystang]

@srt8rocketship241 oh I'm well aware of the LA small blocks and what they can do. W2 and W5 heads are a game changer, and they hold their own with a well massaged set of X or J heads to...I messed with SBM 340 and 360s when i was in my 20's. I actually been kicking around doing a Small block Duster/Demon since i sold all my Ford race car stuff.

[@jamesgeorge4874]

The Hemi's biggest drawback was it's weight. A fully dressed 426 Hemi was north of 800Lbs, about 100Lbs more than a 460, or 454, or even the 440.

[@LoneWrencher]

im a ford man,but im no dummy,ford and chevy took some stabs at em a time or two,but it was obvious the hemi ruled

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Yeah same here.. Thanks for watching Andy

[@nolanjohnson2124]

427 SOHC, first to 200mph and first to 6 seconds. Hmmmmmm

[@LoneWrencher]

@@nolanjohnson2124 i was looking at the street racing and factory racing.i would give my left nut if ford would have made sohc in reg pro cars

[@TheRacerbrown]

Hemis ARE impressive, but for the street, a great running 440 is hard to beat!

[@stevejohnson6858]

From all I have read, at least when it comes to street cars back in the day, guys who bought Hemi equipped cars but didn't know how to work on them(2 carbs, rework ign curve etc) would often be driving an under-performing car while guys who knew how to tune a Hemi would have a car that ran a lot quicker that it did off the showroom floor.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Thanks for watching Andy

[@outlawbillionairez9780]

I was there, in the drag racing capital, Southern California. Mopars were faster brand new, but traction was difficult compared to GMs. They were cheaply built cars with a lot of drivetrain failures. Leaf spring wrap and wheel hop, lighter than GM weight over the rear axle, all conspired to make them short lived. What we all agreed on was how beautiful and fast looking the Mopar body lines were. Even as a Blue Oval guy now, I'm still impressed.

[@nickbruni8041]

🤘🏼⛽️

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Thanks for watching Nick Andy

[@hotrodray6802]

🔔😎 GOAT ? Back in the day on the street... Depends. $100k race engines... Yepster.

[@danmyers9372]

They were routinely beaten on the streets back in the day. Mostly because a high percentage of the owners didn’t know how to tune them.

[@jimandersen3003]

@@danmyers9372 Camaros, Mustangs, Darts, Cudas +. All weighed 1000 pounds less than the Chargers and small blocks didn't overtorque the cars.

[@erickriebel4366]

If you go back to 1970 and you're talking about the great engines you have to mention the Hemi you have to mention a 427 Ford and a 428 Ford and the 429 Chevrolet 454 LS6 those are your top picks there are many more but those are the best with the most horsepower most of them have between 450 and 500 horsepower Factory rated and you could get them up to 700 what you have now is completely different and they are completely unaffordable Back in 1970 anybody can buy one of these other hot cars they were less than $6,000 now they're over 100 grand

[@zanemcfarlane6087]

426 Hemi great part history still is a ledgend to day to day I drive a srt8 6.1L hemi wich runs after the great 426 with 425 horsepower that two is a great engine

[@outlawofga]

This is soo very easy to determine. IF anyelsecouldrun withit. Alltheothermanufacturerswouldn'tput HemisinthierFunny cars wouldthey? . I Would like to take this opportunity to thank Ford, chevy,Toyota and others for using the Mighty Elephant 🐘 all these years in their Funny Cars..👍 That alone says what's the best.... Period Top fuel belongs to the Hemi

[@ldnwholesale8552]

The hemi was not new,, just a derivation of the various hemis from the 50s. 392s were the engines for fuel until the late 60s. The 'big' racer such as Garlits had 426s earlier than most others. Initially it was slower. Chrysler dropped the hemi in late 50s because it was too expensive to produce, the advantage were not enough. As a street engine many will say a 440 is better. Defenitly cheaper but not better. But hemis are also HEAVY whichever version. The design though is what is drag racing staple,, NHRA actually mandate it now so nothing else gets a look in

[@professorginz2379]

While the Hemi looks heavy, in racing trim it's about the same as any other Big Block.

[@Gunny426HemiPlymouth]

Had a Tik Tok guy tell me they went back to the wedge in NASCAR, when the Hemi was banned. Although I do respect a lot of his opinion, I think he's wildin on that one 🤣

[@coperacingtrans]

you, your good you.

[@FrankF-vp4pt]

Buddy Baker was the 1st Nascar driver to crack 200 mph back in 69 or 70 with a hemi powered charger wing car. Higher speeds they dominated in Nascar. I'd still take a healthy 440 over a hemi myself though.

[@nathanmccree2217]

I love the hemi engine still one of the best of all times in my eye's

[@donaldhudson2235]

The wedge head was good, but they WOULD not improved. The cylinder head for IT . And yes, the HEMI is the goat. 😊

[@cam3002]

No convinced that the 426 Hemi was/is the GOAT but most definitely was the right engine at the right time and the rest is history.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

You are probably right about that! Thanks for watching Andy

[@danielsacks7152]

When you hear something about the SBC or BBC, Ford "cammer" or anything else beating a hemi, you need to understand a few things. When it comes to the 2 valve automotive V8s the hemi is the most powerful design ever period. The Chevy big block eventually becomes a Hemi with Arias heads, the Ford SOHC 427 WAS a hemi, as well as the "Boss" big block. Sonny's builds huge 1000 ci big blocks, but the top of the line have Hemi heads. The hemi is the most regulated engine in motorsports history, having more absurd rules written AGAINST it than any other down to being outright banned in some cases, restrictor plates, weight added to cars, and in the NTPA a tractor can have 4 non hemis or only 3 hemis in some classes. The fastest fighter planes and most bombers of WW2 were hemis. Chrysler didn't invent it they made it available. Top fuel hemis are the most restricted engines in drag racing, many hemis in other classes can be built much better. They have to do anything they can to keep it from making the 1000ft track obsolete like it did the 1/4 mile, to the point of limiting the rpm to 9k, (alchohol hemis can turn 11,500), limiting the fuel flow, the blower size, the cubic inches, and MUCH more, then requiring that the computer pull out 20 deg or so of timing after 275 mph! So, trying to beat a hemi at it's own game takes a pencil (the thing us old farts wrote rules with) it took a congressional mandate to stop the bleeding of the money of brand x trying to do so. Ford spent $2,000,000 over 2 years of trying to beat a 1951 Chrysler design in the 392 with an OHC engine. Did so, finally, by a couple mph, gave up and was beat again by a 392! The most powerful engine to ever accelerate a human being is the 12,000 hp nitro hemi which HAS to stick to Chrysler 426 basic design, many TF parts are actually useable in a 1968 426 build. Even gen 3 cars in some classes have to add weight. When asked if the hemi was overrated, Don Garlits said "He** NO! It deserves every accolade it ever got!" Nuff said!

[@timdodd3897]

Best ever

[@chargerdave2046]

My little gecko is named Hemi

[@michaelloth5870]

The HEMI is known world wide. No other engine can make that claim. 😇

[@ThePaulv12]

A stinkin' Barra is the greatest engine of all time LOL, but all I dream about however is Hemi, Hemi, Hemi, Hemi. Get up in the middle of the night - Hemi, wake up in the morning Hemi, all through the day yep Hemi. Last thing before sleep - Hemi. Been like that for about 45 years now. Still don't have one, not even close. I doubt I'll ever manifest one either but a man can dream.

[@steveburlingame1935]

Hellya

[@Timo300V8]

The greatest

[@zanstrom686]

The Ford Boss is number 1. It is not allowed to compete. As soon as nhra got wind someone was going to get serious with it and bring it back, they promptly banned the bore spacing of the Ford. Why, why is any engine protected. It doesn't make any sense.

[@haro997]

Racing it's probably the G.O.A.T. on the street I'll take a 440

[@jerryfarmer5989]

The mopar ok. NHRA outlawed the push button transmission and NASCAR seemed to all but completely ban mopar. Why? Because other lost to them. The 426 Hemi, the 440 and 383 engines all seem to get meaner when they need to. the brat pack and the rapid transit system could not be touched except by the feds and insurance companies. And of course the gas problem in the mid '70's.

[@sorshiaemms5959]

The hemi no 1 too bad some one didn t make a beefed up S O H C block Ford to compete