Inspiration for the Hemi?

[jroyk]

Ardun cylinder heads predate the Hemi by four years.
https://www.torqtalk.com/tech/whats-an-ardun

 

[Unholy707]

Heresy!!

 

[covidcommander]

Interesting, didn't know anything about flat heads. Way before my time. Still amazing back then. Some smart brothers.

 

[catdad]

Actually Chrysler had the hemi head on a P-47 aircraft engine back in 1945. Granted not in an automotive engine but they did use the design before ford.

 

[jroyk]

Actually Chrysler had the hemi head on a P-47 aircraft engine back in 1945. Granted not in an automotive engine but they did use the design before ford.

True, but hemispherical combustion chambers go back to 1904. The P-47 Chrysler was an inverted SOHC V16. The push rod valve layout of the Ardun looks more similar to Chrysler automotive V8 hemi.

https://airandspace.si.edu/collecti...220-11-inverted-v-16-engine/nasm_A19660454000

Anyway, I’m a big fan of the P-47

 

[Demoniccat]

The development of that P-47 is exactly what gave Chrysler Engineers the knowledge base necessary to develop the first Gen 331 in 1951, and proved to be very formidable well after they stoped production of the last 392 back in 1958. With blowers and Nitromethane it was basically untouchable and could stay together handling far more power than the competition. Also it was the first stock production car rated @ 300 Hp back in 55 hence the name Chrysler 300 Was born. Ford and Gm Hp was way down compared during most of that Gen 1 era and then proved to be Stepping stone from the 58 392 to the Gen 2 426 Hemi again capable of far more power while staying together. Let’s not forget that same design of the 426 is the basic design used to this day for the most powerful nitro dragster dishing up 13,000 hp. If they had a better ice engine for drag rail and Funny cars it would be in use.

I realize the topic was about Hemi origins and who developed it first. I would also say for the mass produced and Hp wise
CHRYSLER, besides the WW2 Hemi Radial aircraft engines. Too bad the P-47 Hemi didn’t get in the game sooner @ 2,500 Hp put in the right airframe could have given P51 Mustang a run for its money.

 

[jroyk]

The development of that P-47 is exactly what gave Chrysler Engineers the knowledge base necessary to develop the first Gen 331 in 1951, and proved to be very formidable well after they stoped production of the last 392 back in 1958. With blowers and Nitromethane it was basically untouchable and could stay together handling far more power than the competition. Also it was the first stock production car rated @ 300 Hp back in 55 hence the name Chrysler 300 Was born. Ford and Gm Hp was way down compared during most of that Gen 1 era and then proved to be Stepping stone from the 58 392 to the Gen 2 426 Hemi again capable of far more power while staying together. Let’s not forget that same design of the 426 is the basic design used to this day for the most powerful nitro dragster dishing up 13,000 hp. If they had a better ice engine for drag rail and Funny cars it would be in use.

I realize the topic was about Hemi origins and who developed it first. I would also say for the mass produced and Hp wise
CHRYSLER, besides the WW2 Hemi Radial aircraft engines. Too bad the P-47 Hemi didn’t get in the game sooner @ 2,500 Hp put in the right airframe could have given P51 Mustang a run for its money.

P-47M got 2,800 from the Double Wasp. Fastest prop driven fighter of the war. Only 130 were produced and Zemke’s Wolfpack got them. Late to the game, though.

 

[Demoniccat]

Yep the Radial prop was at its apex as European and Pacific theaters were won and jet propulsion made prop design obsolete almost overnight. But the knowledge of engine development helped cary over into the auto manufacturing once war was over and back to building cars for the masses.
Ironically jet propulsion kind of assisted in bringing us the cool Chrysler Turbin car, but more importantly the Hemi that gave us in total a 72 year run with a couple of intermission periods.

With any luck the powers that be will wake up at Stellantis European side and remove the American side handcuffs so Gen 4 Hemi has a shot at being a reality, twin turbo 4 wheel drive with strong torque and Hp to motivate would be nice.