426 Hemi in an Imperial

[dardal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

In addition to all the comments, the 426 Hemi Imperial would need a lower gear 
ratio.  A 3.23 would probably be sufficient.  These engines did not have a 
whole lot of torque at the low end, so they would need the help of the lower 
ratio for good driveablitiy.  These engines also had a phenomenal high rpm 
performance (they could rev all the way to 6500 maintaining a high level of 
torque) so a super high speed Imperial would certainly be the result.  For the 
record, 6000 rpm w/ a 3.23 and the 235/75 tires would correspond to a hair over 
160 mph.  I would bet that the Hemi would have enough torge at this rpm to 
acheive these speeds in an Imperial.  

Now, a "Magnum" Engined Imperial is certainly more practical, even if somewhat 
slower.  All you need for that is a cam replacement since the rest of the stock 
440 engine is virtually identical to the HP (well, at least the 68-71 440s, the 
67'sand 66's had different heads, as far as I know).  The larger camshaft 
(intake duration increased from 256 to 268 degrees and overlap from 30 to 45 
degrees as I recall) is the main element that allows higher rpm performance 
that the HP 440 has.  Sure, some HP 440s had bigger exhaust manifolds, but this 
is not going to make a significant change.  The bigger cam will result to the 
loss of some low end torque, but that's fine w/ me.

D^2, 2x68s with cam "upgrades".

Quoting "ChiPieAlandPaula@xxxxxxx" <ChiPieAlandPaula@xxxxxxx>:

> Hello All,
>  I do not want to wander from the the stated purpose of the site. But,
> one 
> must remember that as originally produced the 426 Hemi was a thinly
> disguised 
> racing engine. The "Street Hemi" was a barely streetable variant. Fast
> as 
> they were -- they required a tremendous amount of care. That was one of
> the 
> reasons that the 440 Magnum was introduced. It was actually faster than
> the 
> Hemi to 70mph or so(depending on gearing) and required nowhere near the
> 
> maintenence. Since the typical Imperial buyer was in their 40's  - why
> would 
> they want a tempermental racing engine? This sounds to me like someones
> 
> fantasy.
>  Speaking of such -- imagine an Imperial with a 440 Magnum engine, heavy
> duty 
> suspension, heavy duty cooling and an all leather bucket seat interior.
> That 
> would be a truely unique high speed traveler. Of course, this would have
> been 
> easier to do than the aforementioned Hemi.
>  One final point  -- in a Motor Trend from 1971 there was an article
> about 
> the state of Texas. The author described a Texas "sports car" as a 4
> door 
> Imperial with a heavy duty suspension and radial tires!!!!!!
> 
>                                                              Allan From
> 
> Billings, Montana
>