So it was last Sat. morning I was sitting at a light on a six lane highway, little to no traffic when a brand new dodge charger pulls next to me, it had Hemi on the side it had dark tinted windows so I couldn't see inside, but so dose my Formula. I just new when that light change all hell was going to break loose,sure enough that light change I herd that Hemi scream to life,so I watch my take off it was perfect, that bird just pulled away from him thru first gear it went into second just a little chirp from the tires' it's a automatic. still pulling away Just as second was going to red line the hemi back off don't know if he gave up or just felt we were going fast enough. So I get to work and tell my boss the story he is a motor head to owns and races a stock car here in Florida, He says that I beat the driver not the car, than he goes an says his words that there is no way in hell that cute little firebird of yours can beat a dodge charger hemi. So I am wondering if any bodyelse took on a hemi with a fairly stock LT1, right to top end?

Your boss must not have ridden in a Firebird then

I've heard that the new Chargers are not as fast as most think. I say you beat both car & driver. Tell your boss I said so.

I have in my 97, no contest.

As for your boss, he's an idiot. The new hemis are nothing like the old school hemis. With the new ones all that is actually hemi is the heads, on the old school cars it was the whole engine.

My brother has a hemi Magnum (same drivetrain). I walk him badly with my TA. He wont even race me in the Cobra. His car runs all right, but it's very heavy. I don't think they are actual hemisperical heads like the early hemi's. They are just using the name as a selling point.

5.7 Hemi's aren't a problem for F-bodies mainly cause the cars they power are heavy. the 6.1 SRT8 Engine is another story though, they can be fast with a couple bolt on's.
Tell your boss to go get a Factory `69 Hemi Charger and I'll run Him cause even those cars aren't that fast either. I've already smacked a 440 6 pack 4spd GTX on the Street and a Hemi car isn't much faster than one of those.

I raced a hemi charger once. He redlighted...I still got to the line first. He did run a 14.2 or something close to that though.

Not all old school cars were slow

That old 55 Chevy Gasser on two lane black top ran in the 12's

You cant really compare old school muscle with newer hi-perf cars. Back when hp ratings were taken at the crank with no parasitic losses the power was obviously going to be rated higher. HOWEVER,on an episode of American Muscle Cars they did a dyno test of several old classic muscle car engines.One was a 426 Hemi and that sucker dynoed 800+ hp. These engines were rebuild to factory specs according to the show. So,when you see a road test and an old Hemi car only runs in the low 13's there are reasons. Weight (old cars did not have much plastic),crappy tires (bias ply),poor suspension technology all have a big impact on how a car can take off and get moving. I'd be willing to bet a classic 426 Hemi in a newer,lighter car would be wicked fast. Bounce up to 1973. Performance cars were gone pretty much. Thats what makes a SD455 T/A so amazing. A near 4000 lbs car with an automatic transmission with a low compression motor knocking off a 13.56 at almost 105 mph is astounding. Not until the LS1 cars came out was that matched. How fast would that SD be in a 4th gen car properly set up?

Yeah I saw that episode on the old Musclecar engines and I definetly call BS on a Factory Street Hemi Let alone a Race Hemi making 800 HP. Is it possible ? Yes but not on Factory Parts.

Technically it was not 100% stock, but it had to be close to use it for the HOTROD episode. I have it on DVR and need to record it off.

Matt

If I remember correctly the Hemi on that show had a Dual Quad Crossram which was never available on a Street Car.

I believe it was the dual 4 bbl motor. I dont recall any cross ram intake. Still,if it did thats still alot of power.