What happened to the Hemi Ram Truck Idea?

[Marc]

About a year ago in Hot Rod magazine it said Dodge was thinking of producing Hemi trucks, and that they were undergoing California emmisions testing. What happened? Did anybody else read it?

[ehostler]

I know that the next generation Ram, due out the 2002 MY, is supposed to have a couple new engines and getting rid of others. I have heard that they may be using the 5.7l Hemi (Polysphere) and dropping the 5.9l

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'96 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT CC 360 4X4
'68 Charger 383-4

[RAM MAN]

Did you see one of the latest issues of HR ? A guy dropped a hemi in his 4 door DAK and flamed it.

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"Good Luck on your project."

[Maxwedge]

I had read the same artical.

the 426 probably failed badly on the emissions thing.
any motor with a bore diameter of greater than 4.00 inches is extremly hard to get it to pass emissions. Thats why chrysler and ford use v-10's and why small blocks dominate the performance cars. Big blocks can get 24-28mpg with EFI BUT, it will never meet emissions and still make 400 hp or so.



[This message has been edited by Maxwedge (edited February 04, 2000).]

[Marc]

That's bizarre. I have a Pro Street 71 Demon with a 2X4 bbl tunnel rammed 440 and a 484 MP cam. It passes B.C. Aircare emissions testing with flying colors, and it's supposed to be as ridiculous as the California tests. I would think maybe that article was just a teaser or....

[Elwenil]

I remember something coming down the pipeline about the Hemi being looked at while the V10 was still just an idea. I think the Hemi was rejected then because of emissions and production expense.

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~Elwenil~ ~.\|/.~
Elwenil.cjb.net
DodgeChargerSE@aol.com
72 Charger SE

[ehostler]

While I wouldn't take his word as gospel, the information is usualy fairly accurate. You may want to look at the following links regarding the Hemis in the next generation Ram's.
http://www.car-truck.com/chryed/buzz/b121699.htm http://www.car-truck.com/chryed/buzz/b102599.htm


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'96 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT CC 360 4X4
'68 Charger 383-4

[Maxwedge]

Marc.
I read that the reason chrysler chose the V-10 is because it is way easier(as I said before) and if you notice that any of the super tuners, like lingenfelter or saleen or roush never use bigblocks in the cars they try to make street legal. That is also why the big 3 phased them out, the 72-or73 vett 454 made less power than its 350 counter part. chevy alos, as of a few years ago phased out the 454 suburban and replaced the monster choke 454 with a 350 ls1 motor. Because it (the small block)made more hp and less emissions..
anyway, maybe the bigblocks can be made eficiant but the big 3 are to lazy to put the RD into them...
anyway just a thought
Max

[Charger500]

It's already official. The info is in the April issue of Mopar Action magazine. They said the hemi in the 300c concept convertible is the production hemi to replace the 360 in the trucks and will be the charger r/t motor. Also this is the same engine they are trying to pass in nascar. Of course overturning the hemi ban since 1970 isn't easy. Yes the hemi in the concept is just 354 cid, but for nascar they are trying to pass a 358.

[ehostler]

I saw the same article. The only reason I question the article, is that some of it appears to be based on speculation, rumor, and/or insider information. The reason I state that, is that they stated that this engine will be in the Charger R/T although DC has not confirmed the production of this car yet.



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'96 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT CC 360 4X4
'68 Charger 383-4

[Maxwedge]

There were 2 seperate articals, the first one which I believe Marc was talking about had said that Dc was trying to get a 426 hemi emission certified for a truck. This artical was out 2 or 3 years ago. You guys are talking about a much more recent development, I believe...I hope thye do make those nex hemi's soon. Are those to be released with a new body style????
I know the charger R/T is to come out in 2004, when are the new Rams and Daks supposed to come out?