The Hemi engine was pioneered in Belgium

Little known (?) fact: Chrysler's hemi engine wwas pioneered by a Blegian
company...

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22750-2123592,00.html

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
---

European manufacturers from Peugeot to Porsche have used the concept, but
the term "hemi engine" remains a trademark of America's Chrysler corporation
and will be forever associated in British minds with the United States -
although it was pioneered by the little-known Pipe car company of Belgium in
1905.
Chrysler developed an experimental hemi engine that was used in the US air
force's P-47 Thunderbolt fighter during the second world war, but it was
when the company introduced the 180bhp V8 FirePower hemi in several of its
car models in 1951 that it really came into its own. Today it is not unusual
for mid-range saloons to boast 200bhp, but in the 1950s 180bhp was the
automotive equivalent of bringing out the big guns.

Hemi engines improve the combustion process to boost power. Rather than a
flat-topped design, the cylinder head's combustion chamber has a curved, or
"hemispherical", head and is better at retaining heat. The spark plug
positioned in the centre of the chamber makes for easier ignition of the
fuel and air, and having the fuel intake/exhaust valves opposite each other
(rather than side by side) allows for a better flow of air (the term "hemi"
is sometimes replaced with "crossflow cylinder head").



Hemi engines took off in the 1950s and 1960s and the ultimate engine of the
era is Chrysler's 7 litre 426 model launched in 1964 - still a favourite
with drag racers. They fell out of favour during the 1970s because of high
fuel consumption and production costs.

Chrysler reintroduced a 5.7 litre hemi engine in the Dodge Ram pick-up in
2002 and the same engine is used in some models of the Chrysler 300C saloon,
Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Jeep Commander, which went on sale in the UK
last month

 

Well...no, a Belgian company's hemi engine was pioneered by a Belgian
company. Chrysler's Hemi engine families -- all four of them -- were
pioneered by various branches and subsidiaries of Chrysler Corporation.
The present "HEMI", which hasn't got a hemispherical combustion chamber
at all, was pioneered by DaimlerChrysler.

Glad to be able to clear that up for you.

 

The new HEMI design has some additional casting material on each side
of the chamber to help create a more efficient combustion. Otherwise,
they absolutely hold true to the heritage of their name. Chrysler did
not invent the HEMI, they just perfected it.

Thanks,
Scott

 

The HEMI engine for automobiles was born in 1948 -- Harry Westlake and
several others developed a Hemi 6-cylinder engine for Jaguar. A few
years later, in 1951, Chrysler introduced a 180-'horsepower'
(http://auto.howstuffworks.com/horsepower.htm) HEMI V-8 engine on
several models. The Chrysler HEMI engine had a displacement of 331
cubic inches (5.4 liters), so it is known as the "331 HEMI."
These days, 180 horsepower sounds like nothing. For example, you can
get a 2003 Dodge Neon with a stock 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder engine that
produces 150 horsepower. The 5.7 liter LS6 V-8 in the 2003 Chevy
Corvette produces over 400 horsepower. But in 1951, 180 horsepower was
unheard of. It was an amazing amount of power for the day, and it
fueled the "HEMI legend."
[image: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/hemi-8.jpg]
Photo courtesy DaimlerChrysler
*Dual Ghia powered by a 392 HEMI*

Chrysler continued improving the HEMI design, releasing a
354-cubic-inch design in 1956, a 392 cubic-inch design in 1957, and
ultimately a 426-cubic-inch (7-liter) version in 1964. The 426 engine
set the HEMI legend in stone when it won first, second and third place
in the 1964 Daytona 500 'NASCAR'
(http://auto.howstuffworks.com/nascar.htm) race. The 426 street HEMI
came out in 1965, producing 425 horsepower. The 426 block and heads are
still available today from Dodge. The 426 HEMI is a popular power plant
for drag racing, funny cars and muscle cars

 

And a happy Passover to you, too.

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

 

It's too bad they never made a Hemi head for the slant 6 as they did
with the Australian 6.

 

unusual

Some folks will beg to differ when the 'hemi' came into its own. For many,
it is when Don Garlits cranked one up. Chrysler was making him run one in
the drag races, but he didn't really want to run the new 'hemi' engine. In
an effort to be rid of the engine, he advanced the timing far ahead of other
engines of the day, hoping to blow the motor and make Chrysler think it was
no good for drag racing. To Don's surprise, rather than blowing up, the
engine ran like a scalded dog and beat all the other cars at the drags.
That made Don a believer and thus led to the beginning of a long and
lustrious racing career for the 'hemi'.

 

Interesting note. About when was that?

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

 

Don't remember exactly... sometime around 1956-57, I believe...