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Muscle Car Engines
There have been many arguments over the greatest engines of the muscle
car era. Some were tuned for horsepower (top speed) while others were
tuned for torque (acceleration). Still others were seriously
under-rated to keep a low profile (imagine that today) and keep
insurance agents guessing. I have included a profile on some of the
greatest engines ever installed in a muscle car. Some were mass production
engines, others were true race engines quietly slipped into street cars.
For simplicity sake, they are listed by manufacturer, and in roughly
chronological order.
Ford/Mercury
427 Cammer
428/429 Cobra Jet
General Motors
Buick 400/455 Stage 1
Chevrolet 409
Chevrolet 427
Chevrolet 302
Chevrolet 427 ZL1
Chevrolet 454 LS6
Pontiac 421 Super Duty
Pontiac 428
Pontiac 455 Super Duty
MOPAR
413 Max Wedge
426 Max Wedge
426 Hemi
440+6
Ford/Mercury
427 Cammer
1965
Comments: Without a doubt the most powerful engine ever made, the Ford 427 Cammer
was developed with the intention of taking on Chrysler's Hemis. Ford gave the 427
block new heads with hemispherical combustion chambers. To cap that, they fitted
overhead camshafts -- one per cylinder bank -- which gave the engine its name and
allowed it to rev to an unheard of 7,500 rpm. With the regular single four barrel
carb, the "cammer" put out 616 bhp, but with dual four-barrels, it produced a
massive 657 bhp. With this kind of power, the "cammer" 427 was totally unsuitable
for street use. These engines were not sold to the general public, but about 50
examples were built, mostly for professional drag racers. Because of the low
production volumes, NASCAR refused to accept the engine as a regular production
option, and thus Ford couldn't use the engine to combat the Hemi's. This sealed this
engine's fate and Ford discontinued it after 1965.
Ratings:
1x4bbl: 616bhp @ 7500rpm. 2x4bbl: 657 bhp @ 7500rpm, 550 lb-ft.
Installation:
?
Total Production:
?
428/429 Cobra Jet
1968-1971
On April 1, 1968, Ford unveiled perhaps its most famous line of engines, the
428 Cobra Jet. It was based on the regular 428 but included larger valve
heads, the race 427's intake manifold, and an oil-pan windage tray. It
had ram-air induction and breathed through a functional hood scoop.
Output was listed at 335bhp but was rumoured to be around 410bhp. In fact,
after Hot Rod magazine tested a 1968 Cobra Jet Mustang and achieved times
of 0-60 in 5.9 seconds, and a 1/4 mile time of 13.56 seconds @ 106.64 mph,
they declared it "the fastest running Pure Stock in the history of man."
This was somewhat exagerated, but it helped boost the Cobra Jet's popularity
with the buying public.
In 1969, the 428 Cobra Jet, was offered in three states of tune. The first
was a non-Ram Air version, followed by the Ram-Air version which breathed through
a shaker hood scoop. Topping the list was the new Super Cobra Jet which came
with the Drag Pack option. The Super Cobra Jet used the shaker hood scoop, a
modified crankshaft and stronger connecting rods. The Drag Pack also came with
limited-slip 3.91:1 or 4.30:1 rear axles, an external oil cooler, and no air
conditioning. All three engines were under-rated at 335bhp.
The 428 Cobra Jet engines were replaced in 1970 by new 429 Cobra Jet engines.
The 429 Cobra Jet was rated at 370bhp while the Super Cobra Jet had 11.3:1
compression and was rated at 375bhp.
The 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet engines continued in 1971 unchanged. But the
decade of Ford's Total Performance officially ended and this would be the last year
for the Cobra Jet engines.
Ratings:
1968-1969: 428 Cobra Jet V8 335bhp@5400rpm (est. 410bhp), 440lb-ft@3400rpm.
1970: 429 Cobra Jet V8 370bhp. 429 Super Cobra Jet V8 375bhp.
1971: 429 Cobra Jet V8 370bhp. 429 Super Cobra Jet V8 375bhp, 450lb-ft.
Installation:
1968-1971 Ford Mustang
Total Production: ?
General Motors
Buick 400/455 Stage 1
1968-1973
In a nod to the performance market that was driving muscle car sales,
Buick quietly introduced a rare dealer installed option in 1968 which treated
the 400 cid engine with a hotter cam, 11.0:1 compression, stronger valve
springs and a reworked transmission. Officially pegged at a mere 345bhp,
or just a 5 bhp increase over the base 400 cid engine, experts believe
that it was more like 390bhp and it dropped 1/4 mile times by 1 second or
more. It was called the "Stage 1 Special Package" and was an indicator of great
things to come.
Buick got more involved in the performance market by giving its high output
engines greater publicity in 1969. The Stage 1 version of the 400 cid V8 boosted
output to 345bhp while the even rarer Stage 2 boosted output to 360bhp.
1970 saw the greatest Buick engine of all time. GM finally
lifted its corporate ban of engines larger than 400 cubic inches in
an intermediate body and Buick responded by stuffing a brand new 455
cubic inch engine into its restyled GS. The 455 boosted more
displacement, bigger valves, and a hotter cam than the 400 and was
also mated to standard cold air induction through functional hood
scoops. The 455's was rated at 350bhp and a stump pulling 510lb-ft of
torque. This was the highest torque rating of any production engine
besides Cadillac's 472 and 500 cid V-8s, and no engine achieved it at
a lower rpm (2800rpm). If that wasn't enough, a Stage 1 package
brought a hotter cam, bigger valves, and a revised carburetor. Buick
said this amounted to 360bhp but most testers believed that it was
more than 400bhp. This would be the most powerful engine Buick ever built.
1971 was the official beginning of the end of the muscle
car era. Pressured by increasing government regulations and
increasing insurance premiums and gasoline prices, GM decreed that all
its engines must run on low-lead gasoline, leading to a drop in
compression ratios and a corresponding drop in power ratings. The 455
Stage 1 lost 15bhp to 345bhp.
The power drop continued in 1972 as government regulations now required engines to be
rated with all accessories in place, a "net" rating. Although the
actual engine output hadn't changed from 1971, the power ratings
dropped considerably. The 455 Stage 1 dropped to 270bhp.
The 455 Stage 1 continued for one more year and with 270 bhp (net),
was one of the most powerful engines available in 1973. The 455 Stage 1
engine had camshaft, carburation, and air cleaner changes and came standard
with a Posi-Traction limited slip rear end. However, this would be its last year
as the performance market officially collapsed.
Ratings:
1968-1969: 400 Stage 1 V8 345bhp@5800rpm, 440lb-ft@3200rpm.
1970: 455 Stage 1 V8 360bhp@4600rpm, 510lb-ft@2800rpm.
1971: 455 Stage 1 V8 345bhp@5000rpm, 460lb-ft@3000rpm.
1972: 455 Stage 1 V8 270 bhp@4400rpm, 390 lb-ft@3000rpm (net).
1973: 455 Stage 1 V8 270 bhp@4400rpm, 390 lb-ft@3000rpm (net).
Installation:
1968-1973 Buick GS
Total Production:
Chevrolet 409
1961-1963
In 1961, Chevrolet introduced its 409 cubic inch V8, the engine that would launch the
Big Three auto manufacturers into the horsepower race that would last well into the
1970s. The 409 was actually a response to Ford's new 390 cid engine, which was
outperforming Chevy's on the dragstrip. Although it put out "only" 360 bhp
compared to Ford's top 375 bhp, those extra 19 cid gave it respect on the street
and immortalized in song ("She's really fine, my 409"). Unfortunately, the 409
already came with 11.25 compression and a four barrel carburetor, and due to its
wedge shaped combustion chambers was not very easy for the average owner to
improve performance further.
In 1962, The 409 was improved by adding new cylinder heads and a revised camshaft.
With the standard 4 bbl carb, the 409 produced 380 bhp. But the real news was the
improved top of the line 409 which added a pair of Carter AFB four barrel carbs and a
lightweight valve train, and produced an astonishing 409 bhp, or a magical 1 bhp per
cid. The 409 legend grew.
In 1963, For the serious enthusiasts, Chevrolet offered the 409 with solid
lifters and a single four bbl carb good for 400 bhp and a solid lifter 409 with two
four barrel carbs good for a whooping 425 bhp. But the 409 would eventually be
phased out in the middle of the 1965 model year to make way for the versatile 396 engine.
Ratings:
1961: 360 bhp @ 5800 rpm, 409 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
1962: (1x4bbl): 380 bhp. (2x4 bbl): 409 bhp.
1963: 340 bhp, 430 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm. 400 bhp. (2x4 bbl): 425 bhp.
Installation:
1961 Chevrolet Impala SS.
1962-1965 Chevrolet Impala, Bel Air.
Total Production: ?.
Chevrolet 427 ZL1
1969
The ZL1 engine was based on the regular Chevrolet 427 engine. However,
instead of the regular iron-block and head L72 found in the regular
427 engine, the ZL1 sported aluminum heads and the first aluminum block
ever made by Chevrolet. It shared the L88 aluminum head/iron block's engine rating
of 430bhp but made closer to 500bhp -- making it probably the most powerful
engine Chevrolet ever offered to the public. And the engine weighed just
500 pounds, the same as Chevy's 327 small block. The ZL-1 was made
available only for 1969 under COPO 9560 and Chevrolet needed to install 50
copies to qualify the ZL1 Camaro for racing. Chevrolet eventually built 69 Camaros
and 2 Corvettes with the ZL1 engine. ZL1 cars were blessed with a 5 year/50,000 mile
warranty and were fully street legal. With factory exhausts and tires, ZL1 Camaros
could turn low 13s; with headers and slicks, they could turn 11.6s @ 122mph.
This was the fastest car ever produced by Chevrolet. Performance had its
price - $4,160 for the ZL1 engine alone pushing the price of the Camaro ZL1 to an
unbelieveable $7,200 (about double the price for a SS396 Camaro).
Ratings:
427 V8 430bhp@5200rpm, 450lb-ft@4400rpm
Installation:
1969 Chevrolet Camaros: 69.
1969 Chevrolet Corvettes: 2
Total Production: 71.
Chevrolet 302
1967-1969
In 1967, Chevrolet quietly created a Z/28 option for its new Camaro. Specificaly
designed to compete in the Club of America Trans Am racing series which placed a
305 cid limit on its entries, the Z-28 was available to the public solely to
qualify the car for racing. What you got was a unique 302 cid small block that
was created by taking the 327 block and installing the short-stroke 283
crank. Advertised horsepower was listed at just 290bhp, which was not very
impressive until one hooked it up to a dyno and got actual readings of 360-400bhp.
The Z/28 Camaro proved to be difficult to launch on the street because its high
reving engine was lethargic under 4000rpm and worked best when it was shifted at
7500rpm (!).
Ratings:
427 V8 430bhp@5200rpm, 450lb-ft@4400rpm
Installation:
1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: 602.
1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: 7,199.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: 19,014.
Total Production: 26,815.
Chevrolet 454 LS6
1970
General Motors finally lifted the ban on engines larger than 400 cid in intermediate cars in
1970 and Chevrolet responded by creating two new 454 cid V8s, the LS5 and LS6, and stuffed
them into their Chevelle and El Camino. The LS6 used the same block as the LS5 but added
on a 800-cfm Holley four barrel on an aluminum manifold, 11.25:1 compression, solid lifters,
four-bolt mains, forged steel crank and connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, and deep-groove
accessory pullies. No production engine ever had a higher factory horsepower rating. The
LS6 would be a one year only engine as the GM mandated switch to Regular Unleaded in 1971
sealed its doom.
Ratings:
450bhp@5600rpm, 500lb-ft@3600rpm.
Installation:
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454: ?.
1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS454: ?
Total Production: ?.
Pontiac 421 Super Duty
1962-1963
In the early 1960s, auto racing was hot and Pontiac offered a tremendous selection of
performance parts and options under the name "Super Duty." At the top of the Super
Duty option list was a special line of Super Duty engines, based on its 421 V8, which
Pontiac offered to the public inorder to meet new NHRA rules changes which required
engines and body parts for the stock classes to be production options on retail
vehicles. Therefore, the very limited Super Duty 421 was officially listed as
an expensive, limited option on fullsize Pontiacs. Fewer than 180 were built
for 1962, with the majority installed in Catalinas, although about 16 were
installed in Pontiac's new personal luxury coupe, the Grand Prix. The 1962
Super Duty 421 was officially rated at 405 bhp, but true output was rumored to
be around 460 bhp. Although street legal, these engines were truly race ready with
four-bolt mains, forged rods and crank, solid lifters, and NASCAR heads. Stock car
racing versions used a single four barrel carb, but street versions had twin Carter
500 cfm four barrel carbs and an aluminum intake manifold. Super Duty Catalinas also
had free-flow cast iron headers with easily removable exhaust dumps that could be
unbolted for even more power.
Pontiac increased SuperDuty performance for 1963, when buyers could order the Super Duty 421
in three states of tune which all benefited from an increase in the compression ratio from
11.0:1 to 12.0:1 and an increase in the maximum shift point from 5900 rpm to a screaming
6400 rpm. The mildest Super Duty 421, designed for high speed use, used a single four
barrel carb and was rated at 390 bhp. Next up was the drag strip version which used a
dual four barrel and was again underrated at 405 bhp. This engine came with aluminum
exhaust manifolds standard and steel manifolds optional. At the top was a second drag
strip version with a dual four barrel carb version and a 13.0:1 compression ratio which
Pontiac timidly rated at 410 bhp. All this performance was too much for General Motors and
it banned racing (and thus killed the Super Duty engines) at the end of 1963.
Ratings:
1962: SD 421 405 bhp @ 5600 rpm, 425 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm.
1963: SD 421 390 bhp. SD 421 405 bhp. SD 421 410 bhp.
Installation:
1962 Pontiac Catalina: Less than 180. 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix: 16.
1963 Pontiac Catalina: ?
Total Production: ?.
Pontiac 455 Super Duty
1973-1974
The Super Duty 455 V8 (SD-455) was introduced in the Pontiac Firebird in 1973. "Super Duty"
was the name Pontiac used on its high performance (i.e. race ready) engines in the early 1960's,
and the Super Duty 455 was a street legal race prepped engine. All SD-455's were hand assembled,
and had a reinforced block, special cam shaft, aluminum pistons, oversize valves and header-like
exhaust manifolds. Pontiac rated the SD-455 engines at a stout 310 bhp and 390 lb-ft, but
experts agreed that it was closer to 370 bhp. This level of engine ratings were unheard of in
an era when other manufacturer's engines' output were falling dramatically, and the Firebird
became the only true performance car remaining in the market. Unfortunately, Super Duty engines
were expensive and therefore rare; only 252 Trans Am's and 43 Formula 455's received the
SD-455 engine. The Super Duty 455 would only survive until 1974, when it finally was dropped.
Ratings:
1973: 455 (SD) V8 310 bhp @ 4000 rpm, 390 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
Installation:
1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455: 43. 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am: 252
1974 Pontiac Firebird: 943
Total Production: 1238
MOPAR
413 Wedge
?-1965
The 413 was really Chrysler Corporation's first drag racing engine, putting Dodge and
Plymouth on the performance map and capturing the attention and interest of all
enthusiasts. This engine has a special place in the hearts and minds of Chrysler
engineers and executives as well as Mopar fans.
With the introduction of the 426 Max Wedge in 1963, the 413 Max Wedge was dropped
from the Dodge and Plymouth lines, but the 413 in milder states-of-tune remained
available in Chrysler cars. For 1963, you could order a single four-barrel 413
developing 340 hp at 4600 rpm and 470 pounds-feet of torque at 2800 rpm.
Compression ratio was 10.0:1. There was also a dual four-barrel setup that
developed 390 hp at 4800 rpm and 485 pounds-feet of torque at 3600 rpm.
There were three 413's to choose from in 1964. The single four-barrel unit had
the same specs as the year before, except for a slightly higher compression
ratio of 10.10:1 There was also another four-barrel 413 with 360 hp at 4800
rpm and 470 pounds-feet of torque at 3200 rpm. The dual four-barrel 413
suffered a drop in compression to 9.6:1, but it still pumped out 390 hp
and had a higher torque rating than even the 426 Max Wedge.
The dual four-barrel 413 was dropped in 1965, leaving two 413'S with single four-barrel
carburetion. Horsepower and torque readings were the same as the year before, but
Chrysler fiddled with the compression ratio again, returning to 10.0:1. This was
the last year of the 413's production.
Ratings:
1963: (1x4) 340 bhp @ 4600 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm. (2x4) 390 bhp @ 4800 rpm, 485 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
1964: (1x4) 340 bhp @ 4600 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm. (1x4) 360 bhp @ 4800 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm. (2x4) 390 bhp @ 4800 rpm, 485 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
1965: (1x4) 340 bhp @ 4600 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm. (1x4) 360 bhp @ 4800 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm.
Installation:
Total Production: .
426 Max Wedge
1962-1965
The 426 Wedge engine, also with a wedge cylinder head design, first appeared
in 1962, installed only in top-of-the-line Chryslers. It was not available
in Dodges or Plymouths. This engine was not a high-performance powerplant
in the drag racing sense. But this changed in 1963, when Chrysler introduced
the 426 Max Wedge Stage II engine. The primary difference between this
engine and the 413 Max Wedge, of course, was the larger bore of 4.25
inches, resulting in 426 ci.
The 426 Max Wedge was strictly designed for racing, and was offered in
Plymouths as the Super Stock 426 and in Dodges as the 426 Ramcharger
(the spelling was changed). Aside from the displacement, the visual
differences between the 426 and 413 Max Wedge engines were slight.
A Plymouth brochure showed its Super Stock 426 with a black,
seven-blade fan. A Dodge brochure showed its 426 Ramcharger with a
chrome, fourblade fan. In every other respect, the two were identical.
Like the 413 Max Wedge, the 426 Max Wedge was available with a choice of
two compression ratios. The 11.0:1 engine developed 415 hp at 5600 rpm
with 470 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. The 13.5:1 engine developed
425 hp at 5600 rpm and 480 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. Based on
these figures, the 426 Max Wedge developed only five more horsepower
and five pounds-feet more torque than the 413 Max Wedge. The elapsed
times and trap speeds of Mopars running the 426 Max Wedge were no better
than those for the 413 Max Wedge.
In 1964, Chrysler introduced the 426 Max Wedge Stage III. Improvements
included larger-capacity Carter carburetors and larger air cleaners to
accommodate them: a new camshaft with 320 deg rees of overlap: modified
combustion chambers with deeper clearance notches around the valves;
13.0:1 pistons replaced by 12.5:1 pistons in the higher-compression
engine: and new exhaust manifolds designed for NASCAR racing with
tuned, equal-length twenty-one-inch passages, which dumped into
two large steel tubes and then funneled into a 3'/2-inch-diameter
head pipe on each side. Chrysler referred to this exhaust manifold
system as Tri-Y headers.
With the introduction of the 426 race Hemi in 1964, racers had an even
more powerful engine to use. The Hemi was designed to surpass the
426 Max Wedge, but the Hemi's production was limited, so the 426
Max Wedge remained a viable and affordable alternative. The 426
Max Wedge stayed in production through 1964.
There also was a street version of the 426 in 1964, but it lacked
virtually all the Max Wedge components--with good reason. While
you could walk into any Dodge or Plymouth dealer and order your
Mopar with a 426 Max Wedge, the trouble started when you took
delivery and tried to drive it home. The engine was almost undrivable
on the street: the 426 MaxWedge was a racing engine, pure and simple.
The 426 street wedge, while lacking the power of its snarling
brother, also had none of the headaches.
The 426 street wedge had one four-barrel carburetor mounted on a cast
iron intake manifold, and had provision for crossover heat to the
manifold to aid warmup. The exhaust manifolds were conventional -
not the wildly shaped units used on the Max Wedge. Compression
was a healthy 10.3:1. Horsepower was 365 at 4800 rpm with 470
pounds-feet of torque at 3200 rpm.
The last year for the 365-hp 426 street wedge was 1965. Mopar fans
who dreamed of having a 426 Street Hemi derived from the 426 Race Hemi
would not have to dream much longer.
Ratings:
1963: (Max Wedge - 11.0:1) 415 bhp @ 5600 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm. (Max Wedge - 13.5:1) 425 bhp @ 5600 rpm, 480 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm.
1964: (Street Wedge) 365 bhp @ 4800 rpm, 470 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm.
Installation:
Total Production: .
426 Hemi
1964-1971
On February 23, 1964, three Hemi-powered Plymouths and a Hemi-powered
Dodge swept the Daytona 500, 1-2-3-4. It was a stunning victory which
set the world of NASCAR racing on its ear. News of this awesome engine
spread like wildfire.
As most Mopar enthusiasts know, the 426 Hemi was not the first Chrysler
Hemi, but it was the best. Whereas the Hemis of the fifties were
passenger-car engines, the 426 Hemi of 1964 was conceived strictly as
a race engine, from the oil pan up. Its purpose was to win big on the
NASCAR circuit and dominate organized drag racing.
Chrysler met the letter of the law in the NASCAR rule book with regard
to the minimum production run of engines. However, the 426 Hemi was
too successful for its own good. It was making a mockery of the
competition, and NASCAR put its foot down. Instead of building
several hundred blue-printed Hemis a year, Chrysler had to build
several thousand and offer them in production vehicles. Chrysler
had invested too much time and money developing the Hemi to walk
away from NASCAR permanently (although it did so for one year);
the company turned a liability into an asset and detuned the
Hemi for the street.
The street Hemi was introduced in 1966 in the Plymouth Belvedere and
Dodge Coronet and Charger. Both engines were very similar. The
street and race Hemi had the same cast iron, stress-relieved block
with a bore and stroke of 4.25x3.75 inches. The forged, shot-peened
and Nitride-hardened crankshaft was the same for both street and
race Hemi, as well as the impact-extruded pistons, crossbolt main
bearing caps, forged connecting rods, iron cylinder heads and
mechanical lifters.
The biggest differences between the street and race Hemi were the
intake and exhaust manifolds. The intake manifold on the Race
Hemi in 1964 and 1965 was a conventional aluminum dual-plane, single
four barrel manifold. The track Hemi of 1966 used an aluminum plenum-ram
single four-barrel manifold. For drag racing, the 1964 Hemi used an
aluminum dual four-barrel plenum-ram manifold. The 1965 drag Hemi used
the same manifold, but it was cast in magnesium; and to reduce weight
even further, it used aluminum cylinder heads. The exhaust manifolds
on the race Hemi were naturally of the header type, using
2 1/2-inch-outside-diameter tubing with steel castings or plates
bolted to the cylinder heads. Length varied from thirty to forty
inches.
Whereas the Race Hemi's used a single four barrel carburetor, the Street
Hemi came with dual Carter 4-barrel carbs mounted on an aluminum dual-plane intake
manifold. The compression ratio was reduced to 10.25:1 and cast iron heads
were used instead of aluminum. The camshaft had both intake and exhaust
durations of 276 degrees, compared to the 1966 track Hemi's 328 degrees.
Valve overlap was fifty-two degrees on the street engine and 112 degrees
on the track engine. Intake and exhaust valve lifts were 0.48 inch and
0.46 inch, respectively, while the track Hemi had 0.565-inch lift for both
intake and exhaust. The valve springs were softer on the street Hemi to
reduce camshaft wear. Racing valves were used in the street Hemi with an
intake valve diameter of 2.25 inches and exhaust valve diameter of 1.94
inches. Despite all these modifications, the Street Hemi's advertised
horsepower and torque ratings stayed at 425 hp at 5000 rpm and 490
foot-pounds of torque at 4000 rpm. Many people claim the output was
closer to 500 hp. The 426 Hemi was a $1,100 option on many models and
came with either a 4-speed manual or a Torque Flite automatic transmission.
In addition, Hemis came only with a 1 year/12,000 mile warranty instead of
the standard 5 year/50,000 mile warrany. Furthermore, that warranty was
void if the car was "subjected to any extreme operation" (i.e. drag racing).
Heaven forbid.
The 426 Hemi received several changes over its lifetime. In 1968, the 426
Hemi was strengthened with a slightly longer-duration cam, new valve springs,
and revisions which reduced oil consumption. Its 425 bhp rating was left
unchanged. 1970 saw the addition of hydraulic lifters, instead of the
previous solid tappets. The Hemi stayed fast in 1971, when MOPAR detuned
several of its other engines, but that would be its last year.
Ratings:
1966 - 1971: 425bhp @ 5000rpm, 490 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm.
Installation:
1966 - 1971 Dodge Charger
1968 - 1971 Dodge Super Bee
1968 - 1971 Plymouth GTX
1968 - 1971 Plymouth Road Runner
1969 Dodge Daytona
1970 Plymouth Superbird
1970 - 1971 Dodge Challenger
1970 - 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda
Special Order:
1968 Dodge Dart
1967 - 1969 Plymouth 'Cuda
Total Production:
Approximately 10,000.
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