Would you trade your Charger for a less desirable classic Mopar with a Hemi?

[beenaround]

i'll stick with my six pack.

[cudaken]

 Hard one to answer. Yank the Hemi and find a nother Charger, guess that is my answer. But right now the Love Hate afair is more on the hate side.

                                You a Hot Rodder or a Banker?

                                        Cuda Ken

[48chebbie]

no i wouldn't,sorry,but a hemi is worth about as much to me as a slant 6,or a 68-70 charger painted up in clown car form(you know what i mean).

[Chad L. Magee]

No, I already have that one covered........

[Blusmbl]

As it sits right now, probably.  In 6 months when it's painted and I have to reassemble it, no way in hell.  Too much of a personal, emotional investment in it to ever get rid of it now...

[6pkrunner]

Hemis are great for the carshows when the hoods are open, but are no longer the street dominator they were in the 60s and 70s. And there was no guarantee that a hemi was a winner then either. A lot came in second. The hemi mystique has grown quantum fold in the last 30 years or so. A lot of the car magazines would run any tests on them until Al Kirschenbuam and company super tuned them. Most cut high 13s or low 14s as off the showroom floor. Wasn't until Al and company super tuned them that they got low 13s.

[BrianShaughnessy]

I'm not trading or selling anything.     I got too much time and effort going into this one already. 

[bull]

Hard one to answer. Yank the Hemi and find a nother Charger, guess that is my answer. But right now the Love Hate afair is more on the hate side.

                                               You a Hot Rodder or a Banker?

                                                           Cuda Ken

Were you asking me? I'm a little of both I guess, but more than anything I just want a Charger I can drive and have fun with without having to work on it too much. I've only flipped one car in my life ('68 R/T I bought for $50 and sold for $500 a few months later) but I'm really in love with the '68 Charger. I get a weird/good feeling every time I see one in person. To me there's nothing better... (looks over shoulder) oh, hi honey. I mean other than my wife and kids of course.

[Brock Samson]

specificly No...
  I built mine the way I wanted it. and i didn't want a HEMI,..
   I would however probably trade it for a '67 Hemi GTX which i don't concider nearly as nice lookin a car, but i'd love to have a Silver Bullett clone.. The first MOPAR I noticed and fell in love with was a copper colored '67 HEMI GTX.. it would have to be a 4 speed though..

[69fuchs]

Hemis are great for the carshows when the hoods are open, but are no longer the street dominator they were in the 60s and 70s. And there was no guarantee that a hemi was a winner then either. A lot came in second. The hemi mystique has grown quantum fold in the last 30 years or so. A lot of the car magazines would run any tests on them until Al Kirschenbuam and company super tuned them. Most cut high 13s or low 14s as off the showroom floor. Wasn't until Al and company super tuned them that they got low 13s.

a hemi is just a motor in my eyes.   if one was thrown my way for cheap i would flip it.

Nothing special about a street hemi. A well built 440 can outpower a 472 crate hemi....mine did ! I'll keep the car, thank you.

Ron

  get off the crack!!! Hemis still rule, stop downplaying the best engine ever.   Learn how to TUNE an engine people!!   If you have a street hemi, and it doesn't run at LEAST low 13's, you are BRAIN DEAD

[Troy]

Hemis are great for the carshows when the hoods are open, but are no longer the street dominator they were in the 60s and 70s. And there was no guarantee that a hemi was a winner then either. A lot came in second. The hemi mystique has grown quantum fold in the last 30 years or so. A lot of the car magazines would run any tests on them until Al Kirschenbuam and company super tuned them. Most cut high 13s or low 14s as off the showroom floor. Wasn't until Al and company super tuned them that they got low 13s.

a hemi is just a motor in my eyes.  if one was thrown my way for cheap i would flip it.

Nothing special about a street hemi. A well built 440 can outpower a 472 crate hemi....mine did ! I'll keep the car, thank you.

Ron

get off the crack!!! Hemis still rule, stop downplaying the best engine ever.  Learn how to TUNE an engine people!!  If you have a street hemi, and it doesn't run at LEAST low 13's, you are BRAIN DEAD

You apparently haven't followed the build of that motor...

I wouldn't trade for any other car just because it has a Hemi. I buy what I like so if there's something I don't like that has a cool motor then someone else can have it. I can buy a Hemi for my Charger so why would I bother trading for something I find less appealing? If I wanted a fast car for the least amount of cash then I'd skip the Hemi and go with a wedge (like many others) - but I really don't care if I'm not the fastest on my block so that's out of the equation. However, I like the appeal, mystique, and just flat out coolness of a Hemi in the engine bay so I may end up with one any way.

Troy

[Lowprofile]

For me , the answer would be no. Although hemi's are most desireable, I am quite happy with what I have.

[beepilot]

absolutely not...I'm 2nd owner , owned it for 30 years , it's as close to family as a vehicle can get!!!

[440 R/T]

I would never trade my charger for any other car and if i wanted a hemi I would just put a 426 in to the charger (69')but the charger is just to good to trade for anything

[472 R/T SE]

A loaded question if I was truthful.  How I perceive the hobby and what others' think varies.   I call it climbing the Mopar ladder.     Hell if you go backwards, what's the use. 

 

[Todd Wilson]

I would in a heart beat for any of the old Super Stocks!



Todd

[6pkrunner]

Hemis are great for the carshows when the hoods are open, but are no longer the street dominator they were in the 60s and 70s. And there was no guarantee that a hemi was a winner then either. A lot came in second. The hemi mystique has grown quantum fold in the last 30 years or so. A lot of the car magazines would run any tests on them until Al Kirschenbuam and company super tuned them. Most cut high 13s or low 14s as off the showroom floor. Wasn't until Al and company super tuned them that they got low 13s.

a hemi is just a motor in my eyes.  if one was thrown my way for cheap i would flip it.

Nothing special about a street hemi. A well built 440 can outpower a 472 crate hemi....mine did ! I'll keep the car, thank you.

Ron

get off the crack!!! Hemis still rule, stop downplaying the best engine ever.  Learn how to TUNE an engine people!!  If you have a street hemi, and it doesn't run at LEAST low 13's, you are BRAIN DEAD

I've had mine running low 13s all the time when I had it.
And I was artound when the magazines got these cars from Chrysler and they ran low to mid 14s. A supertune put them into the 13s - but not off the floor. So those that ran them at the time were all liars? Yeah right. And a 440 can be built at less than half the coast of a hemi that will kick its face every day of the week. Thoser monster rocker arms are nothing but lots of reciprocating weight that limits the redline of the old girl. The old elephant is a fine old lady, but she's not longer the center of attention she once was. For shows yes, for serious streetwork - no.

[TeeWJay426]

Since I have a '66 Hemi Charger now, which is considered by many to be the ugly stepchild of the the REAL Chargers (NHCharger notwithstanding) , not sure what would constitute an 'improvement' in desirability- almost everything?? Since I've already had it for 21 years, I don't think I could bring myself to part with it for any other Hemi car. Guess I'm just one of those oddballs that likes and even prefers the slantbacks.

[Shakey]

I personally think the '69 Dodge Charger is the nicest and meanest looking car ever to come out of Detroit.

Would I trade my '69 R/T SE 440 for something else that had a hemi - no.

If my project was finished and complete and was a # 2 car and someone offered me a # 4 project hemi Charger as an even trade - maybe.

[firefighter3931]

get off the crack!!! Hemis still rule, stop downplaying the best engine ever.   Learn how to TUNE an engine people!!   If you have a street hemi, and it doesn't run at LEAST low 13's, you are BRAIN DEAD

A hemi is just a motor and nothing more. Sure, it ran pretty descent back in the day and that's why it was held in such high esteem. A novelty yes....a truly powerful engine....no. The inherent flaws in the design of the cylinder heads with respect to the engine's displacement make it a poor performer in street type applications. Specificly, the port volumes are too big for the size of the engine and this makes it a dog on the street. The hemi works fine as a race engine but you need to wind it up pretty hard for it to work well. Port velocity is where it's at on the street....big heads aren't the hot ticket. A small efficient port will get the job done and make power throughtout the powerband....not just at wide open throttle.

The Hemi is a cool motor, no disputing that. But, it is by design a race motor.....that was detuned for street applications. A hemi is the perfect engine for a roots type blower and the large port volumes help it to breathe and make more power than a comparatively sized wedge. That is the one application where i see a hemi having some advantage over a wedge.

The car is the most important piece of the puzzle. I'd keep a pristine 383 charger over a hemicar of some less desirable bodystyle any day of the week. There is nothing badder than a second generation charger, period !  

Ron

[Blown70]

A hemi is the perfect engine for a roots type blower and the large port volumes help it to breathe and make more power than a comparatively sized wedge. That is the one application where i see a hemi having some advantage over a wedge.


Ron

OHHH YES

[69fuchs]

I would not trade my charger(s) for a hemi, my 68 already has one so I don't have to worry about that.   The off topic point is that hemis run great on the street.   I drive mine 128 miles one way to the drag strip, run 13.00 at 106-107 mph all day long, and then drive it home.   My car is dead stock from the cam, compression, exhaust manifolds, right through the exhaust tips.   I am far from a "super tuner", I put this engine together in my garage with no blueprinting, balancing, nothing!!!   I have a 440 six pack engine, that is stock as well, and when it was in my 69 charger it ran 13.50's at 104 mph.   That tells the tale, the mph tells you which has more power, not to mention the weight advantage of the wedge (nearly 100 pounds on my car)   They are both great engines,   but how interesting would HEMITIME, from right on this board be with a wedge?   There is a reason the factory stock appearing cars run hemis instead of 440 six packs, just ask Dave Dudek or hemi Joel,   then tell me who is getting their face kicked in.   If the hemi wasn't up to the task, they would build a "cheaper" 440.   It would only make sense.   I would never argue about cost.     A hemi costs 3 times as much as a wedge.     But a wedge costs 3 times as much as a small block chevy.   If it is about cost, we are all in trouble, because mopars are way more expensive than chevys.   There are TONS of small block chevys out there that cost less to build than a wedge, and would kill a wedge on the street or strip.   So the point is, hemis, at least my home built special, with my "super tuning abilities" runs as good as any "stock" 440 six pack.   I have never fouled a spark plug, it is a 1970 engine with hydraulic lifters.   So, if you want to talk smack about hemis on the street, get your facts straight first.   By the way, my short times are 1.8 with street tires, so the low end runs good as well.

[andy74]

i think you missed the point my friend, what ron has been trying to tell you,is that the hemi is a great race motor,but alot of them get their lunch money stolen by 440s! we have all seen strong street engines,hemis,wedges and even small blocks-its all how its put together. dont take it personally,but i dont give a shit about a hemi,id rather have a 440,and with modern carbs,manifolds etc,i wouldnt even frig around with a 6 pack.

['CUDA360]

Yes 

Even if it was a '70 R/T 440 6pak..

I am a small block guy but the HEMI rocks. On the street it's not just about the quarter mile times, there is also the awesome mid range that keeps pulling quicker then anything else. Did you ever drive one of those early B-body HEMIs? I had a chance to drive a HP2 Belvedere around town once and I got to romp it a couple of times.     OMG

Scarey but very cool

[last426]

The off topic point is that hemis run great on the street.   I drive mine 128 miles one way to the drag strip, run 13.00 at 106-107 mph all day long, and then drive it home.   My car is dead stock from the cam, compression, exhaust manifolds, right through the exhaust tips.   I am far from a "super tuner", I put this engine together in my garage with no blueprinting, balancing, nothing!!!  

[snip]

So the point is, hemis, at least my home built special, with my "super tuning abilities" runs as good as any "stock" 440 six pack.   I have never fouled a spark plug, it is a 1970 engine with hydraulic lifters.   So, if you want to talk smack about hemis on the street, get your facts straight first.   By the way, my short times are 1.8 with street tires, so the low end runs good as well.

I agree.  For some reason people (usually who don't have one) think that hemis are hard to tune or to keep running correctly.  That is not my experience.  When I first got my car it had trouble idling.  I rebuilt the carbs exactly to factory specs and that was that.  I stuck a Pertronix in there and no more hassle with dual poiints (I always hated setting dwell on a Mopar anyway).  Mine also has the hydraulic tappets so no issue there.  I am way over trying to street race so that doesn't come into play.  The worst thing is I don't race it at the track either -- it is just too rare and expensive to risk breaking something.  But if I had a normal hemi, heck yeah I would slug it, and slug it hard.  Joel and I bought our cars within a month of each other and I always admired him for using it the way it was meant to be used.  Mine is a cupcake now and sometimes it seems like the car cries for some action.  But make no mistake, it runs super strong and is easy to keep in tune.  Kim