jeff@oblio.UUCP (Jeff Buchanan) (04/02/85)
In the '60's Chrysler introduced the 426 hemi which was available as an option in some of its Dodge and Plymouth models. It was commonly referred to as the "street hemi". I've never understood the term "street". Street as opposed to what? Were there two different 426 Hemis? If so, what was the difference, and was the other one available as an option installed in a car? If only one hemi, why the "street" distinction? Why not just hemi? Jeff
shelby@rtech.ARPA (Shelby Thornton) (04/16/85)
> > In the '60's Chrysler introduced the 426 hemi which was available as > an option in some of its Dodge and Plymouth models. It was commonly > referred to as the "street hemi". I've never understood the term > "street". Street as opposed to what? Were there two different 426 > Hemis? If so, what was the difference, and was the other one available > as an option installed in a car? If only one hemi, why the "street" > distinction? Why not just hemi? > Jeff If memory serves me correctly, there were three major differences between the street and race hemis. One, the compression ratio on the street hemi was 10.25 versus the race hemi's 12.5. Second, the street version cam was .471 lift w/ 284 degrees of duration, the race version was much bigger, but I have forgotten the numbers. And finally, the induction systems were totally different. The street hemi came with in-line Carter AFBs (yeech) and the race hemi came with two Holleys (I forget the exact size) mounted on a Magnesium cross-ram. The $400 dollar option that voided the warranty (ya gotta love it). Shelby P.S. It's been said that Chrysler actually lost money on the hemi because it was over-engineered for the street and they never re-cooped there development costs, but I still think it was worth it!