Slideshow: Hemi V-8 Engines, Then And Now

Chrysler Cars: New vs Old

From 1964 to 1971 the 426 Hemi V-8 was the flagship of Chrysler performance engines. How does it compare to the newer Hemi engines introduced in 2005, and still sold today? We'll examine both old and new to find out.   

426 Street Hemi

From 1964 to 1968 Chrysler sold approximately 900 Hemi motors intended for the race track. Few were sold to the public, and those that did were very expensive. Starting in 1966 a new version was created for the street. With lower compression and various cost-cutting measures to make it more practical, advertised horsepower was 425. About 11,000 were produced, until 1972 model year, when high gas prices and raised insurance rates spelled the end of the muscle car market. 

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1970 Hemi Cuda

Back in the day, a stock 426 street Hemi delivered excellent performance. In 1970, Cars magazine tested a Plymouth Barracuda (known on the street as the HEMI CUDA). It showed a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds and a quarter mile of 13.65. This compared to the Chrysler 440 cubic inch triple-carb engine 390 hp that went 0-60 in 7.0 and quarter in 13.74.

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426 Dodge Charger

There were some disadvantages to the 426. First was cost, as it added about $750 to the sticker price. This doesn't sound like much today, but keep in mind in a 1970 base MOPAR muscle car started about $3,000 and topped about $5,000. Adjusting for inflation, that $750 would be about $8,000 now. In fact, ordering a similar 426 new in the crate today (the 540 hp version) runs about $14,000!

Another disadvantage was fuel economy, with 6 mpg in city driving, and 10 mpg on freeway trips being the norm. Those who ordered the performance rear gearing of 3.91 to 1 to promote quicker acceleration times were limited to 55-60 mpg cruising. With no overdrive, going faster could cause excess engine wear. Add to this weak brakes, a heavy 750-pound engine that ruined any serious cornering ability, and a flimsy body structure that didn’t stand up to the massive torque output as well, it is easy to see why few of these older Hemi powered cars survive today. 

>>Join the conversation about the old and new Hemi V8 engines right here in the Dodge Forum.

426 Hemi: 350 Net Horsepower

One of the biggest misunderstandings about the 426 is its true horsepower output. During production years, it was listed at 425, with 490 lb./ft. of torque. Rumors in the media stated it was really near 500 horsepower and was listed lower to fool the insurance companies. Both stories are a myth! First, the auto companies never listed low horsepower numbers to fool the insurance people. That was marketing nonsense to fool buyers into thinking they were getting a more powerful car! Secondly, prior to 1972, all engines were rated GROSS horsepower on the bench. This means no muffler, smog gear, air cleaner, or belts. Starting in the 1972 model year, ALL CARS were rated SAE-NET. As of the 2019 model year they still are. This means as installed in the car, with all accessories. This results in a drop in horsepower of about 18-20% over the GROSS method. Long story short, the true horsepower of a stock 426 Hemi is not 425, it is really, by today's standards, only 350! The old 440-6 engine dropped from 395 to 325 hp SAE-NET. Even the Chrysler parts catalog verified these lower figures after 1972. 

>>Join the conversation about the old and new Hemi V8 engines right here in the Dodge Forum.

Dodge Charger R/T

Quarter mile times tell the story. A 2018 Dodge Challenger (or its Charger brother) R/T with 5.7 liter V-8 puts out 375 hp SAE-NET. It does 0-60 in 5.1-5.5 seconds, and the quarter mile in about 13.6/13.8. That matches the old 426 Hemi powered Challenger/Barracuda cars at 0-60 in about 6.5 and 13.65 quarter. And that 2018 car is about 400 pounds heavier than the older Challengers! If the older 426 really put out 425 horses, it could beat the newer 5.7 cars, but it can't.

>>Join the conversation about the old and new Hemi V8 engines right here in the Dodge Forum.

6.1L Hemi

The only Challenger/Charger that puts out a real 425 horsepower are the more modern ones made from 2005-2010. These SRT 6.1-liter motors, which we tested, did 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.1. No production muscle car from the 1960's or early 1970's can match that, not factory stock anyway.

>>Join the conversation about the old and new Hemi V8 engines right here in the Dodge Forum.

Challenger SRT

The newer 2018 Challenger/Charger SRT Hemi cars now have a larger 6.4 liter V-8, and crank out 485 horsepower. Our test vehicles got 0-60 in 4.7 seconds, and 12.7 quarter time. We observed 23 mpg in highway cruising, far better than the 6-11 of that old 426. The 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS stop on a dime, and with a suspension based on an older Mercedes design, takes corners like a champ. The cabin materials are of high quality, and far superior to what we used to see in the older Chrysler cars by far. The price is right too. Even at a sticker price near $50,000, this isn't much more than the $5,000 a 1970 Hemi Challenger cost when adjusting for inflation. And the newer cars are better in every way. 

>>Join the conversation about the old and new Hemi V8 engines right here in the Dodge Forum.

Dodge Hellcat: 707 Horsepower

An original Hemi car from 1964-1971 will bring a high price at auction. This is especially true of the later 1970 Challengers, with the popular shaker hoods and wild paint colors which will often soar past the $100,000 mark. Still, you have to wonder why anyone would pay these high prices for a 350 horsepower car that is not any quicker than the 2018 5.7 375 hp Charger driven by that soccer mom next door. For these high fees, one would be better served purchasing a new 707hp Hellcat or better yet, the new Dodge Demon. 

>>Join the conversation about the old and new Hemi V8 engines right here in the Dodge Forum.

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