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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: racerx]
#1262539
07/07/12 06:56 PM
07/07/12 06:56 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,446
NJ-USA
HPMike
master
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master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,446
NJ-USA
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Quote:
Quote:
This debate will rage on forever...
They both make good power. All Ill say is this, and I drive and build a lot of brandX stuff, too. All things being equal(like dont compare a full boogie B-1 with a stock street hemi), nothing feels like a hemi up top. It turns on when the others are turning off. Period...
MB
Hmm.r we talking about top end charge in the 1/4 mi or highway   
Either one!
Quick story,,,One of the first experiences I had driving a hemi car was back in the late 80's. Challenger with a Racer Brown cam, Competition Series carbs, and headers, but not much else. The car had 4.88 gears. Well, that thing pulled like nothing else I had ever driven. You would think with that much gear it would nose over quick...nope!
MB
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: B G Racing]
#1262543
07/09/12 02:50 PM
07/09/12 02:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 246
Cranberry Twp PA (North of Pit...
rumblefish72
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 246
Cranberry Twp PA (North of Pit...
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I'm going to second the post from BG Racing ... if your #1 goal is NOT HP per dollar spent and you want to have a legendary engine design sitting between your fenderwells ... then you should build up a Hemi. I've been a Mopar Man since 1979 and have always run Wedge motors. All through the 80's and into the 90's, the Hemi option was just too expensive because of the limited supply of blocks and heads. I started buying parts for a Hemi back in 2008. Now it's 2012 and I'm pretty close to having everything I need. I hope to have the Hemi installed and running by summer 2013. Why a Hemi? ... well they never did a TV commercial with the Tag Line "that thing got a Wedge in it?".
My only second thought is the Predator Head option ... that wasn't available when I started buying parts and I put down a deposit on some Stage V heads from MCH back in 2008.
I was up at the Curt George Memorial Race at Pgh Raceway Park a few weeks ago ... while strolling the pits, I walked past lots of Indy headed wedges and barely took a second look. I did stop to look at all the Hemis and I think I saw one Predator headed car there. Hemi's have "gravity" they just pull you over to take a closer look. And to think that the Gen II 426 design came out in 1964ish and we're still talking about it almost 50 years later ... WOW!
Last edited by rumblefish72; 07/12/12 08:26 AM.
1972 Pro-Street 'Cuda, 500" Eagle stoker B Block, Eddy RPM heads, Victor Manifold, 850 Mighty Demon, Hemi 4 Speed, Dana 60 w/4.88 gears - Built by Hansen Racing Middlesex - NJ
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: rumblefish72]
#1262544
07/09/12 04:30 PM
07/09/12 04:30 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 902
Mopar Lane,Mississippi
67HEMI
super stock
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super stock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 902
Mopar Lane,Mississippi
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Plus the "Mopar Wedge Challenge" sounds like a contest to get your underwear unbunched. Mopar HEMI Challenge sounds better!  Hopefully I like my new HEMI because the wedge is going in the Duster!
'33 Plymouth 5 Window Coupe Blown Aluminum HEMI w/bolt ons (under construction)
'69 Chrysler 300 Convertible 375 HP 440
'71 Plymouth Duster 360 W/EFI (Wife's Ride)
'12 Ram MegaCab Dually 6.7 Cummins
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: MRMOPAR622]
#1262545
07/09/12 04:50 PM
07/09/12 04:50 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,386
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,386
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
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Quote:
Can you afford ($$$) to build a Hemi and all the additional up keep that a Hemi requires? If so a Hemi is the #1 choice.
Exactly like my first time driving one. They rev, and just keep pulling. Just amazing the first time you drive one all set-up and running like it should.
I would like to see what a Gen3 Hemi drives like. This 484 Hemi might be my last Gen2 if I get an up close look and drive in one of the G3's, we will see. I like all the numbers people are posting out of the Gen3 stuff, so the old elephant now has some competition and I don't think they need a ton of cubes to do it either.
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: Dragula]
#1262546
07/10/12 10:30 AM
07/10/12 10:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,645
Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,645
Stuttgart, Arkansas
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Ok, you are going to force me to tell you a story.
In 2004 I was sitting at a stoplight in my Superbird. (Of course when you look at a Superbird it looks like a fast car.) A woman and her 5 year old son pulled up beside me. The kids tells his momma, "Roll down the window and ask him if it's got a Hemi in it". Think about that a minute. He is a 5 year old kid. A five year old knows nothing in the world except that you get a happy meal at the place with the golden arches. But even a five year old kid knows if it looks that fast it must have a hemi in it.
Of course it had a hemi in it.
2011 Drag Pak Challenger
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: rickseeman]
#1262547
07/10/12 05:05 PM
07/10/12 05:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
383man
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
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I really dont know right now which is actually better but I will say the Hemi is the eng that made Mopar dominate the early years of Pro Stock and its the only eng all the nitro cars run as it owns them classes. But that said I feel the Wedge is the eng that carried Mopar on the street mostly as back in the 60's and 70's you just did not see many Hemi's on the street but there were Wedge engines everywhere and they won alot of street races. And lets not forget how the Max Wedge dominated for 2 years in the early 60's. I know I cannot afford to build a Hemi as my wedge eng took most of what I had but I am glad Mopar has them both. Honestly I just want to have a fast Mopar street car for what it is and Hemi or Wedge would not matter to me. I am just glad a cheap guy like me could afford to build a mild Wedge (by todays standards) to put my 3700 lb car in the 10's on pump through the pipes. Wonder how fast I would go with a Hemi of about the same build ? Hemi or Wedge you gotta love it if your a Mopar person. Ron
Last edited by 383man; 07/10/12 05:06 PM.
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: rickseeman]
#1262548
07/10/12 05:52 PM
07/10/12 05:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck
Not enough dumb comments...yet
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Not enough dumb comments...yet
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
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Quote:
Ok, you are going to force me to tell you a story.
In 2004 I was sitting at a stoplight in my Superbird. (Of course when you look at a Superbird it looks like a fast car.) A woman and her 5 year old son pulled up beside me. The kids tells his momma, "Roll down the window and ask him if it's got a Hemi in it". Think about that a minute. He is a 5 year old kid. A five year old knows nothing in the world except that you get a happy meal at the place with the golden arches. But even a five year old kid knows if it looks that fast it must have a hemi in it.
Of course it had a hemi in it. [/quote
you should have said no...it has a 440-6 pack, a much better engine.
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: 340B5]
#1262551
07/10/12 07:12 PM
07/10/12 07:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,109
Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,109
Byron, NY
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Quote:
Quote:
This debate will rage on forever...
They both make good power. All Ill say is this, and I drive and build a lot of brandX stuff, too. All things being equal(like dont compare a full boogie B-1 with a stock street hemi), nothing feels like a hemi up top. It turns on when the others are turning off. Period...
MB
Exactly that: I just switched tow vehicles last year and just 2 weeks ago opened up the 5.7 hemi on the highway. The old truck was a 5.9 and would start to lay over around 90-95 mph and the 5.7 started really moving about 80 and didn't quit until I did @110mph. I'd say that's an equal comparison.
I think we are talking real Hemis here...
'01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60
'01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust,
'05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list
'60 Willys CJ5
'01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison
'64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: cudaman1969]
#1262552
07/10/12 07:20 PM
07/10/12 07:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,109
Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,109
Byron, NY
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Quote:
You never hear a hemi owner say " someday i'll own a wedge"
Thats a fact!!!
Two kinds of people in this world...those who have Hemis and those who want Hemis
Never heard that said about wedges!
Also as far as additional maintence being required, if you just want to put gas in it and go a Hemi probaly isnt for you, but what real race motor doesnt require so occasional TLC. Those who say Wedges and Hemis are equal, havent learned how to tune a Hemi. 
'01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60
'01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust,
'05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list
'60 Willys CJ5
'01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison
'64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: W.I.N. Racing]
#1262554
07/10/12 10:54 PM
07/10/12 10:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,275
Desert Tracker
HYPER8oSoNic
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,275
Desert Tracker
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Quote:
Quote:
You never hear a hemi owner say " someday i'll own a wedge"
Thats a fact!!!
Two kinds of people in this world...those who have Hemis and those who want Hemis
Never heard that said about wedges!
Also as far as additional maintence being required, if you just want to put gas in it and go a Hemi probaly isnt for you, but what real race motor doesnt require so occasional TLC. Those who say Wedges and Hemis are equal, havent learned how to tune a Hemi.
"Here's the BOOMERANG, comin' back at ya !" 
Wedges, since the first ram-inducted big block, have always been easier to tune than HEMIS. FACT IS that wedges offer better tractability for "street wars" and moderate strip work in comparison to the HEMIS. Sure the HEMI needs sharp
tuning to run well and it's a bit more costly to run on the street, BUT.. it offers much MORE raw performance than the wedge in upper classes of NHRA/IHRA and brackets. They are running on the streets with good success since the 60's and the costs are slightly higher than a wedge (stroker) motor. Tuning them (HEMIS), are a little easier now, than in the 60's, due to more information on them as well as the improved parts available for them. Basically it boils down to the "age old" question - "How fast do you really want to go ?". You want to run 8.90's, or faster with ease, few engine problems and have the money - go with the HEMI. 9.00's or slower, the lower operating cost/performance advantage is on the wedge side The performance margin ALWAYS slides to the HEMI as you pass BELOW the 9 sec barrier. No disrespect intended, but IMO, a well-tuned 440 (whether 6-pack or 4bbl) or a HOT MAX WEDGE motor, CAN and HAS beaten a HEMI (unless the HEMI is in full race trim).
'Nuff said and that's MY  cents!
"Stupidity is Ignorance on Steroids"
"Yeah, it's hopped to over 160" (quote by Kowalski in the movie Vanishing Point 1970 - Cupid Productions)
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: HYPER8oSoNic]
#1262555
07/11/12 02:05 AM
07/11/12 02:05 AM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,848
Memphis
HemiRick
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,848
Memphis
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Try adjusting the valves on a solid lifter long ram wedge sometime and tell me it's easy.
Take care,
Rick
68 Coronet R/T 440 & 68 Charger 528 Hemi,and 5 Challengers! 6 cyl, 318, 360, 383, 451
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: HemiRick]
#1262556
07/11/12 10:18 AM
07/11/12 10:18 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
MoparBilly
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,448
Phoenix, AZ
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Wedge racer and driver...by choice! always have been, always will be. I have no problem with the Hemi, it's a fine engine, just not impressed with Hemi owners who think everyone should bow down and ooh and aah over thier car because they have an engine that other people have done amazing things with.
"Livin' in a powder keg and givin' off sparks"
4 Street cars, 5 Race engines
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