what exactly makes a hemi motor a hemi?

[00]

I have a 2004 dodge ram hemi magnum, as well as a 1971 dodge challenger hemi. and i was just wandering whats the difference between a hemi and a magnum v8? and my challenger has a 392 hemi, does anyone know what came in the 04 hemi rams?yes i know the hemi in my truck is no were near as great as the challenger but mines a limeted edition dodge ram "rumble bee" check ithttp://www.digital-autos.com/america/Dodge/Dodge-Ram-RumbleBee-preview1.jpg

[G6er]

hemi just means it has hemispherical heads. and TONS of engines do that now. (plent of 4 cylinders are hemi's) it's just dodge TM the term.Magnum is just a name. Companies like to give engines names.Here ya go. some facts on the Hemi Magnumhttp://www.dodgeboy.net/news/57hemi/index.htm

[mikey0872]

Hemi engines have a hemispherical combustion chamber and (most critical) valves arrayed at 90 degrees to the centerline of the engine. Wedge engines have valves parallet to the centerline of the engine. There are in between engines such as the big block Chevy and the pre 1965 A block in Chrysler products.

[galaxiexl3157]

A 392 Hemi was stock in Desotos and Chrysler Imperials and was made in the late 50's.It was called the "Red Ram" or "Power Dome".The latest version called a "Hemi"(NOT!)is made in Mexico.The real Hemi started in 1954 as a 332,then354,392 and then finally was redesigned from a 440 "B" block produced in Chrysler's Trenton,Mich casting plant.The Cylinder heads had spherical combustion chambers and massive valves.The head chambers looked like half a tennis ball,completely spherical.The finished design weighed over 700lbs and made over 500hp out of the box.It was so big in the engine bay it was called the "Elephant"motor.The motor in your Classic Challenger is a TRUE 426cid Hemi "Elephant"motor not the Wanna-be Mexican imitation.To call that piece of crap a Hemi is sacrilege to a Chrysler fan.Junk the Truck and drive the Classic.By the way,you can go to any Chrysler,Dodge or Plymouth dealer and order from the "Direct Connection"Catalog a brand new Hemi made from the original castings.Either in Aluminum or Cast Iron.

[ahanix19899052]

"Hemi" refers to the hemispherical head chamber in the cylinders, which allowed the valves to sit ~90° from each other. This was fantastic for power, but horrible for emissions. These engines back in the 60s and 70s were easily producing 300-500 horsepower.In the late mid 90's, Dodge took their truck engines, added Multiport Fuel Injection, and rebranded them "Magnum". These produced much more power than the original LA engines of the 80's and earlier (but not as much as the HEMI's). The LA's were good for 100-180 horsepower, while the Magnums could do 220-260.With technology we have now, Dodge was able to create emissions-friendly "semi-HEMI" engines. They slightly retain their hemispherical chambers, but are capable of meeting emissions standards that we have now. Producing 300-400HP in the earlier generations, Dodge brought back their classic "HEMI" name and phased out the Magnum engines, finally retiring Magnums when they ended production of the Dodge Ram Van in 2003. The "Hemi Magnum" on your 2004 is still just a Hemi, but Dodge held onto the "Magnum" name for a year or two as a transition deal.... to signify it wasn't the old-generation Hemi's but a new type.There was also, for a couple years, the PowerTech engines, but nobody really cares about those <3

[CumminsGirl]

Hemispheriscal combustion chambers. As for the new HEMIS (my 04 anyway...don't have the stock heads...) they're still good engines and thank god they're not nearly the PITA the old school were. Some people actually need low end torque. However, the top end is still where the HEMI prevails. BTW, seeing as how you own a Hemi Ram, check out HemiTruckClub.com and join up. Great bunch of guys and gals. :-)