What's THE Difference? BETWEEN a real Hemi-car or Car with a Hemi ( in it )

[familymopar]

Well, I am in no hurry to sell it but I will contact you when I am ready.  As I remember, you haven't even seen the Charger in person yet !   We will have to remedy that soon!

I have not seen the Charger yet, which is a travesty given the proximity.  Maybe at one of the meets this year I may see it.  Maybe we can get a few folks to carve out a charger section at Longhorn this year.  Heck, from what I recall, we could push your car there if we had to since I think that show is in your backyard.

[charge69]

Ha! "push it there" !  I am only about a mile from the show but, that might be a long push !   It would get driven there.  Just have to sort out the "carb" problem. I am guilty of just starting it every so often and not pulling the carbs to try to diagnose the problem but, my old azz needs to get out there and fix it! I suspect it is the float levels or a too aggressive fuel pump overpowering the needles and flooding the engine.  Awesome fun driving it around!

Hopefully, I will get it to the Nifty 50's show a time or two this spring!  Either way, you need to see it. Maybe even come by the house to view it!

Oh, and back to the subject at hand:  The vast majority of people at a show would never know if the Hemi was the original power plant or not but, as the owner,  the owner would know and probably drive it accordingly.  Original Hemicars with the original Hemi engine it was born with are a rare sight for anyone.  I would rather they see it at the gas station (all too frequent ) or driving around town just enjoying the day and the ride!

When it does come time to sell, the original Hemi will generate more excitement and money.

[Ryan.C]

I thought I read somewhere that HEMI cars and convertibles had torque boxes installed. Is this true?

[Troy]

I thought I read somewhere that HEMI cars and convertibles had torque boxes installed. Is this true?

Mostly, yes. I think there are known instances where something other than a Hemi or convertible got them and also some that slipped through without.

There are a few other frame stiffening pieces on Hemi cars as well (which may or may not also be on convertibles - I'm not an expert).

Troy

[Nacho-RT74]

As far I know, all 4 speeds should got them, maybe they skipped some autos.

[Ryan.C]

As far I know, all 4 speeds should got them, maybe they skipped some autos.

I have seen the underside of a '69 GTX and Daytona both original 4-speed cars that did not have them 

[HPP]

What's the difference between a Rolex and a Timex with a Rolex face? They both say Rolex. They both have machined stainless bodies. They both have adjustable wrist bands. They both tell time. Why does a Rolex cost a 1000x what it costs to get a Time/Rolex when the both look and function the same?

[Ponch ®]

That's because non-MOPAR, non-car people are thinking rationally when trying to figure out the distinction. They have a point. A car with a HEMI is a HEMI car.

The only ones obsessed with "original from the factory" and matching numbers are the collector-types.

[Ryan.C]

I thought I read somewhere that HEMI cars and convertibles had torque boxes installed. Is this true?

Mostly, yes. I think there are known instances where something other than a Hemi or convertible got them and also some that slipped through without.

There are a few other frame stiffening pieces on Hemi cars as well (which may or may not also be on convertibles - I'm not an expert).

Troy

So HEMI cars were diffent than non-HEMI cars

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I have seen the underside of a '69 GTX and Daytona both original 4-speed cars that did not have them 

But were they Hemi cars or 440 cars?

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I thought I read somewhere that HEMI cars and convertibles had torque boxes installed. Is this true?

Mostly, yes. I think there are known instances where something other than a Hemi or convertible got them and also some that slipped through without.

There are a few other frame stiffening pieces on Hemi cars as well (which may or may not also be on convertibles - I'm not an expert).

Troy

So HEMI cars were diffent than non-HEMI cars

There are three stiffening pieces that are on all Hemi cars; automatic and standard...

1. Torque boxes on the front spring perches
2. Flat steel pieces were welded in on the read frame rails by the rear spring shackles
3. A heavier plate welded to the floorpan where the pinion snubber would hit.

[TUFCAT]

That's because non-MOPAR, non-car people are thinking rationally when trying to figure out the distinction. They have a point. A car with a HEMI is a HEMI car.

The only ones obsessed with "original from the factory" and matching numbers are the collector-types.

Check out this HEMI CAR!!!  It's truly spectacular. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JsXwlclGwk

[charge69]

This is a picture of my Hemi Charger on the rotisserie during restoration Not real sure if the rear spring perch extra plate is visible but the other two are there!

[500Jon]

Yep C69.

Torque boxes, extra snubber plate and rear hanger plates(welded in front of diagonals) are there!
Not sure the extra box-section bracing is factory though???

Skid-plate on K-member, front torque boxes and a badge on the door and you're complete!

Little known fact is...71 GTX's got the extra stuff even as a 440 CAR!!!

[b5blue]

What about the A12 plates under the LCA's up stop bumper? 

[A383Wing]

The difference between the cars you ask?

Basically just the 5th digit in the VIN is the simple answer

[TUFCAT]

The difference between the cars you ask?

Basically just the 5th digit in the VIN is the simple answer

  That's the best answer! 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Here's a good picture of the extra steel add-ons.............

[Mytur Binsdirti]

What about the A12 plates under the LCA's up stop bumper? 

Yes, the up-stop bumpers for the rear axle are different and here's what they look like.....

[charge69]

Yep, better picture.  My Charger still had the extra bracing welded on as my restorer had not fit the new metal to the rear of the car and wanted to make sure everything was square while on the rotisserie.  The complete underside was painted R6 after the bracing was cut off and smoothed over.

The only metal that is original (besides all metal from the rear quarters forward) is the trunk lid, the end caps and the roll pan. Everything else is AMD metal!  The rear frame rails are all original as they were in beautiful condition with just a little surface rust on them. The acid-dip and phosphate coating took care of that!

[b5blue]

I don't need those, but I want them!   I was referring to the about 2 1/2" square 1/4" thick plates that sit between the front lower control arms and the rubber bumper. I bought LCA's off a 70 GTX that had them on there. It took awhile for me to find out they were factory "A12" parts so I cleaned them up and reused them. I'm no pro at any of this stuff but love stumbling across details about what/why/when the factory did stuff. (Like the extra steel bushing around the rear bushing on the upper control arm, just cop/taxi or Hemi also?)  The 727's internals have different parts for 6BBL/Hemi also, correct? Coolers for power steering and extra one for 727?  

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I don't need those, but I want them!   I was referring to the about 2 1/2" square 1/4" thick plates that sit between the front lower control arms and the rubber bumper. I bought LCA's off a 70 GTX that had them on there. It took awhile for me to find out they were factory "A12" parts so I cleaned them up and reused them. I'm no pro at any of this stuff but love stumbling across details about what/why/when the factory did stuff. (Like the extra steel bushing around the rear bushing on the upper control arm, just cop/taxi or Hemi also?)  The 727's internals have different parts for 6BBL/Hemi also, correct? Coolers for power steering and extra one for 727?  

My upper control arms had the collars around the bushings. Don't know whether that was just a Hemi item or not? PS coolers were for 3:55 and lower gear ratios & I think that they started in 1969. The additional trans coolers were for Hemis only.

[69wannabe]

Well, I am in no hurry to sell it but I will contact you when I am ready.  As I remember, you haven't even seen the Charger in person yet !   We will have to remedy that soon!

Dude, I would never sell that car!!!!! It is beautiful and then it's a true hemi car as well!!! If that was mine I would be remembered as the guy that was always smiling and repeating " I win" all the time!!! LOL

[charge69]

Thanks 69wannabe, Don't know if I could really let go of it either but, I am 68 yrs. old and post-stroke in 2010 that left me with permanent left-side weakness and a moderate case of Ataxia (Simply put, a stumble-bum" now) along with a few other problems like bad lower back and peripheral neuropathy.  The little plaque in my living room simply puts it as "Old Age Ain't For Sissies".

Just looking a it and especially showing it to friends combined with a close ride around the area ALWAYS puts a grin on my face and getting rid of it does seem hard to imagine. Showing the Charger to someone is always a thrill a they never fail to have that slack-jawed grin on their face and funny words coming out of their mouth! Yet, every now and then ................................................. I don't need he money to live on but my wife has little interest to even ride in it and I have 4 grandsons, two from each of my children. Two are too young to make a judgment about their stewardship and the two older would just see dollar signs in front of their eyes and sell it.  I would rather  sell it to a real enthusiast and let my wife use the money in her old age and my grandchildren just learn to fend for themselves.  That is, unless they can give me a compelling reason for the Charger to stay in the family and assure me it would not be sold as long as we (my wife and I) were alive.

Although we get along great as a family and we have been married 38 years, My wife is their step-mother and I cannot and will not trust them to care for her in her old age as I will surely pass before her.

Lots of things to think about!  Thanks again 69wannabe for the compliment. I am very proud of how the restoration came out. Most everyone I show it to has never seen a true and original Hemicar and are stunned at it's beauty and brute force of an engine.  It is truly a Snarly Beast

[b5blue]

I don't need those, but I want them!   I was referring to the about 2 1/2" square 1/4" thick plates that sit between the front lower control arms and the rubber bumper. I bought LCA's off a 70 GTX that had them on there. It took awhile for me to find out they were factory "A12" parts so I cleaned them up and reused them. I'm no pro at any of this stuff but love stumbling across details about what/why/when the factory did stuff. (Like the extra steel bushing around the rear bushing on the upper control arm, just cop/taxi or Hemi also?)  The 727's internals have different parts for 6BBL/Hemi also, correct? Coolers for power steering and extra one for 727?  

My upper control arms had the collars around the bushings. Don't know whether that was just a Hemi item or not? PS coolers were for 3:55 and lower gear ratios & I think that they started in 1969. The additional trans coolers were for Hemis only.

Thanks! See now I've learned even more.  (Still not sure what cars/years had Hemi available but I can Google that when I have time.)