OK.. I'll humor your "humor"! After ALL in the end, we're Moparites HERE. Hmm... Your HUMOR:
#1 Why would you DRIVE a "Cleveland or Boss 429 powered car up a tree? Driving skills must be that of a kid with a 3hp go-kart. Lot of hp and torque, can't fool around with it.
#2
to a point! It takes a very-skilled mind and top notch machine work to make power with a mostly stock Chevy engine.
#3 Buick engines get better and BIGGER every year!
And they ARE "right". Been giving the Mopar HEMI and WEDGE engines "headaches" for YEARS!
#4 Stock stroke, heads and factory block HEMI engine pushing 2.5 hp per ci? I believe the "production" RACE HEMI was rated in the 550-575 hp range, maybe 600 at it's absolute best. Max-wedges were
probably down 50-75 hp from the above figure...BUT they had ample mid range torque
to run against the HEMI. On the track or street, the HEMI may get there first, but NOT BY MUCH!
#5 As far as being "at the top of of the aftermarket food chain"
, the HEMI is surpassed by CHEVROLET!!
#6 AS far as the FORD issues are concerned, Fords TRUE "drawbacks" lie within three problem areas:
In the 50's, their cars had some power but most models were unattractive to buyers looking for performance sedans.
During the 60's' again they had performance but the cars were too large and weighty (most of their "hot" motors were in full size sedans). They did start the ponycar "trend" which is STILL successful today!
As far as their motor design flaws there are some BUT most, if not all, can be corrected with factory parts or the aftermarket. Ford is VERY close to CHEVY in terms of "aftermarket usage". And yes, despite their "shortcomings", MOST FORD
engines DO make power! The "Windsor-head" motor has become an excellent "base" for serious stroker motors. Just as the Mopar 340/360 is.
Ok, it's gas guzzler
, but I believe that "works" for ANYTHING "out-of-tune"!
Now, as far as the TOPIC is concerned, "HEMI IS KING"!
I thought that it was read "HEMI VS WEDGE"!
I don't remember ANY "landslide" victories, HERE!
OK, lets go over this again, because its been a while now...
What production engine could you name me that in 1975, with an unlightened car(3500#) could run a best of 10.30's@134MPH with the following mods.
Non stroke 426ci
stock block
stock oil system
untouched heads.
stock rockers.
stock crank & rods
stock 4 speed trans -no slick shift
stock Dana 60.
Mods limiited to:
-12.5:1 pistons. Balance assembly.
-Aftermarket intake(Rat Roaster-No mods)
-reworked stock carbs
-Racer Brown solid cam 70's technology.
-Headers 2-1/8 tube.
-Dual point distributor
-Holley Red pump.
-4.88 Gears.
Those mods on any of the other brand X stuff might get you into the 11's if you are lucky. A 427 Corvette would get you into the 10's, but we all know how many inherent advantages the actual "car" has so its more the car than the motor there.
MB
well it's NOT 1975 and when you bring your $5500 (what I have in my 440) Hemi to the track let me know, I'll line up w/ you.
Hmmmmmm.....interesting retort.
My turn.....
1. I know a little about torque.....my HEMI has about 1200tq. Lo and behold, I haven't put it in a tree......yet.
2. You take an factory BBC iron head and factory block.....I'll take a factory iron HEMI head and block. Max effort engines and lets see which one has a higher ceiling. I know where my money will be.
3. Buick??? "Shirly" you jest??? I ain't talkin' bout some stock style "rules" class.....I'm taking about serious engines built for racing.
4. Reading is FUNdamental. Go back and re-read what I said and you'll see I was speaking of a REAL N/A deal, beyond a SS/AH build. A top of the hill SS HEMI makes 1000+. Do you not think without the restrictions of SS, it wouldn't make more??? A RAW Millennium head as the foundation, dry sump, "trick" crankshaft, light rods, piston guided rods, any piston/ring combination w/max vac, Ti valve, two dominators, etc. and development time. You don't believe that would approach 2.5???
5. The HEMI is surpassed by the chevy on the aftermarket food chain??? Not on my planet. Last I checked the top aftermarket HEMI engines were in the 10,000hp range....running 320+ to 1000ft. You do realize that an AJ, or BAE is aftermarket HEMI......do you not???
6. As far as fords go, they have the same support as chey does in the aftermarket. You can build a killer with either one. The stock ford big dog heads flowed like the Mississippi river on the intake side, (with slow airspeed)...which is where the "port plugs" and "port plates" came in handy, but a crushed garden hose on the exhaust side, in a number of instances. I've seen it on the bench. Can all these engines make power??? Sure they can.....I ain't here to poop on anyone's stuff.
Now for the good stuff.....
I don't care what happened in 1975 and I don't care that a HEMI cost more to build than a 440. We all know that. What we all should also know, is the HEMI has a higher ceiling than the wedge when both engines are topped out.
It would seem after reading the last sentence, that I've just been challenged to an acceleration contest, sooooooooo.......let me say this......
Unfortunately, I don't have 5500 clams in my HEMI engine. I have more than that in the PSI screw that sit atop it.
!!!BUT!!!
I have $5499.99 invested in a lowly smallblock (wedge) MOPAR with factory heads, intake and block sitting in my barn door shaped 70' Dart, that I drive regularly on the street. Would you like to "line up w/me" with that.....for a few coins???
I don't care what you have as long as it's a registered, street driven car, on motor.
Is ya in??? 
