Hemi. The word alone evokes images of ultra-high-performance street cars and dominating race cars. No other engine has earned as much street credibility and race success. This engine resides at the pinnacle of American V-8 performance, and cars that carry a Hemi are some of the rarest, most expensive, and legendary muscle cars ever made. When Chrysler threw the wraps off the 426 in 1964, it made history. In the 1964 Daytona 500, the new Hemi-powered stock cars finished 1-2-3-4, announcing Chrysler's new era of dominance in racing. Fast forward to today: recently an immaculate 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda convertible sold for $2.16 million at a 2006 Barrett Jackson collector car auction. The factory Hemi cars have become legendary, easily eclipsing all other muscle cars in performance and value.

 

How to Build Max-Performance Hemi Engines details how to extract even more horsepower out of these incredible engines. All the block options from street versus race, new versus old, and iron versus aluminum are presented. Full detailed coverage on the reciprocating assembly is also included. Heads play an essential role in flowing fuel and producing maximum horsepower, and therefore receive special treatment. Author Richard Nedbal explores major head types, rocker-arm systems, head machining and prep, valves, springs, seats, porting quench control, and much more. All camshaft considerations are discussed as well, so you can select the best specification for your engine build. Induction options including EFI, aftermarket ignitions systems, high-performance oiling systems, and cooling systems are also covered. The book also examines in detail how to install and set up power adders such as nitrous oxide, superchargers, and turbochargers.

 

 

 

First-Generation Hemis 1951–1958 

The Chrysler 331 and 354

The 392

The End of Early Hemis

 

The Second-Generation 426 Hemi 

2008 Mopar Hemi Block Part Numbers 

Block Improvements

Aluminum Blocks 

Special Blocks

 

Cast Crankshafts 

Forged OEM Crankshafts

Aftermarket Crankshafts 

Crankshaft Stroke 

Compression Height

Special Finish Work 

Recommendations

Crankshaft Journal Size

Magnafluxing 

Balancing

Connecting Rods 

Aluminum vs. Steel Rods

Pin Size

Pistons 

 

Coatings

Main Bearings 

Rod Bearings

Bearing Technical Information

 

Valve Arrangement 

Typical Flow Numbers

Iron or Aluminum Heads?

Port Height and Location

Intake and Exhaust Bolt Patterns 

Rocker Arm Considerations

Racing Considerations

Head Components

Springs

Head Preparation Sequence

 

The Camshaft 

Terminology and the Cam Card 

Degreeing a Camshaft

Types of Cams 

Special Camshaft Considerations

The Cam Drive 

Pushrods 

The Rocker System

Indy Cylinder Heads 

Rocker Arms

 

Chrysler Hemi Oiling System 

Some Technical Comments

Modifications and Improvements to the Oiling System 

Block Modifications

 

Some Induction Basics

Types of Manifolds and Recommendations 

Forced Induction 

Carburetors 

Fuel Types 

Fuel Injection

Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)

 

Intermediate Shaft and Bushing 

Set the TDC Mark 

Hemi Ignition Basics 

RPM-Based Mechanical Advance

Load-Based Advance 

Rotor Phasing 

Effects of Timing on Power 

Types of Ignition 

Magnetos 

Coils 

Types of Distributors 

Modifying Distributors 

Spark Plug Tubes, Wires and Spark Plugs

 

The Cooling System 

The Exhaust System

 

Nitrous Oxide 

Turbocharging 

Power Adder Summary 

 

The Blueprinting Sheet 

Choosing the Parts

Engine Machining 

Machining the Rotating Assembly 

Machining the Block 

Head Machining and Head Assembly

Engine Assembly 

 

Crate Hemi 

Stock Street Hemi with Quiet Valvetrain 

Normally Aspirated Hot Street Stroker Hemi

Normally Aspirated Hot Street Stroker Hemi with EFI 

Supercharged Street Hem

Race Hemi for Bracket Racing

Race Hemi for Top Sportsman Racing

Outlaw Race Hemi

Engine Combination Summary