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If you are a car fanatic or car buff then you probably already know about all the hype that was created in the 1950's and '60's with the HEMI engine. Many people love the power that was created with the advent of this engine, and even though the HEMI engine is hardly used today because of increased automobile and engine technology, the HEMI will always be revered as a great change in the auto industry.
One of the main benefits of the HEMI engine that was popular in the mid-1900's is the fact that the combustion chamber was more efficient than the flat head engine model. In fact, the HEMI engine was so efficient that it was capable of producing even more horsepower than regular vehicles on the market during that time.
The flat head engine is basically a flatly-designed engine that is inexpensive to manufacture. On the other hand, the HEMI engine is a large engine that actually makes efficient use of not only the combustion chamber, but also increases thermal energy use.
The main benefit that provided the HEMI engine with more power than a regular flathead engine aside from how the combustion chamber works is how the combustion chamber is designed.
The HEMI engine actually was shaped hemispherical, hence the name HEMI to describe how the engine was shaped. Because there is less surface area on the top of the engine then there is less of a chance that heat will be lost, which decreases the engine's performance. However, the flat head engines that have a simple design with a hole cut out in the middle to fit a spark plug is perfect for traditional lawnmowers simply because, as mentioned, they are easy to manufacture and easy to maintain.
The Start of the HEMI Engine
You may be wondering when the HEMI engine started production and in which vehicles they were originally manufactured in, although if you are a car buff than you probably already know. But Harry Westlake and Chrysler were the first ones to introduce the HEMI engine and Chrysler placed this engine into their Jaguars.
In fact, the V-8 version of the Jaguar in the early 1950's was capable of producing 180 horsepower. This was not only a milestone for the automobile industry, but that amount of power was practically unheard of during that time period.
There has also recently been a release of the HEMI engine in a Dodge vehicle. The Dodge Magnum in 2003 was released with HEMI engine heads that deliver more than 340 horsepower to the engine.
This 5.7 liter, V-8 engine makes use of the hemispherical heads that the HEMI heads are known for. Furthermore, the Dodge Magnum vehicle uses two spark plugs for each cylinder, which also increases the engine's performance.
All in all, the HEMI engine has long been a popular engine for automobiles and it is a symbol of one of the revolutions in the automobile industry that came about in the mid-1900's. The model and theory of the HEMI engine is still used today, but with even more power than before!