What is a hemi?

A "Hemi" engine, short for "hemispherical", refers to an internal combustion engine design characterized by a combustion chamber shaped like a hemisphere. This design offers several potential advantages:

• Combustion Chamber Shape: The hemispherical combustion chamber allows for larger valves, promoting better airflow and potentially increasing engine power. This is because the hemispherical shape allows the valves to be positioned at an angle to each other, maximizing their size.

• Valve Placement: The angled valve arrangement, typically with intake and exhaust valves on opposite sides of the chamber, can lead to a more direct path for air and exhaust gases, reducing flow restriction.

• Spark Plug Location: The spark plug is often centrally located in the hemisphere, which can lead to more efficient and complete combustion.

• High Performance: Hemi engines are often associated with high performance and are commonly found in muscle cars and other high-performance vehicles.

• Complexity: Hemi engines can be more complex to manufacture than other engine designs, which can contribute to higher production costs.

• Chrysler's Hemi: The term "Hemi" is most famously associated with Chrysler's line of engines, particularly the 426 Hemi V8 from the 1960s, which became legendary for its power and performance. Modern iterations of Hemi engines are still produced by Chrysler (now Stellantis) and continue to be used in vehicles like the Ram trucks and Dodge Challenger.

Here are some linked keywords within the text for further exploration:

• Combustion Chamber
• Valves
• Spark Plug
• Chrysler