[Jeff Higgins]

Has anyone here actually driven a car with the 426 Hemi in it? I had the opportunity to drive a few back in the early '80's that some fellow MOPAR nuts owned. Nothing I have driven since even comes close.

Factory rated at 425 hp at 5,000 rpm, which was entirely true. That was, however, for insurance reasons. The solid lifter (pre 1970) motors revved freely to just over 7,000 rpm and continued to make power as the revs climbed. There have been various claims regarding their true horsepower, some rather exaggerated, but they did exceed an honest 500 hp and 450 ft lbs of torque.

It didn't take much to dramatically increase that, without having to dig into the internals. A set of decent headers, an Edelbrock "Rat Roaster" (that script was actually cast into the top) manifold, and a pair of Holley "Dominator" carbs that flowed 1150 cfm each really woke them up.

These motors were handbuilt by the MOPAR performance team, known as the "Ramchargers". They took great pride in their work, producing what was, in its day, the ultimate American performance motor.

Both NASCAR and the NHRA eventually stacked the deck against this motor, seeking to end its dominance. NASCAR required smaller intake restrictors than any other motor and eventually drastically limited its displacement. The NHRA, in Pro Stock, gave every other motor a weight break (called out in pounds per cubic inch), making the Hemi carry seven pounds per cubic inch, wedge motors 6.5 pounds, and canted valve motors 6.75 pounds.

If you ever get a chance to drive an original, don't pass it up. Yeah, there are modern versions, modern motors that make more power, but none have the "personality" of the original 426. They rev as freely as a 2.0 liter 911 S motor, but they are a full 7 liters. Just so much fun.