Late 60's, early 70's. The 426 Hemi or the 440? Yes, I will probably be the underdog here, but I prefer the 440. I want to spend more time driving and less time tweaking. The 426 Hemi needed to be tweaked regularly to keep it running at it's best. I'd rather set it and forget it.

 

I would on one hand like a HEMI. But the 440 is so much cheaper. Less tuning needed. And all the HEMI stuff is so hard to find.

I have to go with the 440. More bang for the buck. And for me cost is always a factor.

 

They both have their good and bad points. Owning a car with each, my observations are:
- Cant' beat the Hemi for 'ooh & ahh' appeal
- Anything Hemi related is EXPENSIVE.....
- 440s can be built to be competitive with the Hemi for less $$$
- 440s are easier to keep in tune
- Nothing beats the sound of a Hemi under WOT with all 8 barrels open!!

 

anyone can go fast in a big block...

chrysler only made one engine that was never altered for emissions or "better" street use...the mighty 340...

i know that its not pretty, but its putting down around 360 to the wheels...

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but in all fairness, TeewJay is right...i was at the detroit custom car show last weekend, and im not sure if there were more than 5% of the mopars that had wedge engines...everyone wants a hemi...

hell, i want a hemi...

but there isnt much that you can do with a 440 that you cant do with a hemi...and in either case, a ton of money

 

Having experience with both as well, the hemi is less impressive off the line but comes on like nothing else...period.

The 440 is an excellent torque monster and even better w/ 6pak set up.

Besides tuning the hemi, solid lifters add a whole other set of variables, and time. But NOTHING breathes like a hemi, especially on a cool evening, like adding 50 HP...

Overall, tough choice, but 440 is definetly less headaches...and easier on the wallet.

 

It is quite simple. It depends on what you value more. The best engine or having extra money. The 440 offers more beginning power but the HEMI pounds it later. The 426 HEMI is one beast of an engine in power, but the 440 is right behind it for so much less money. The HEMI costs more but will gain more and more value as it gets older. To some this up, it is like this.

Rich man's muscle engine 426 HEMI

Normal man's muscle engine 440.

 

i have the poor mans muscle engine...

 

I got the rich man's engine before you had to be rich to get one....

 

really, its kind of depressing to know that i will very likely Never have a real hemi, as the prices of numbers matching hemi cars have gotten so out of control...i figure that carlisle is about the same, but at the nationals in the last few years, there were factory hemi e bodies that went for 500,000+...

have a look at this...the sign said "factory hemi car"...who knows whats wrong with this picture, other than the 55,000 price tag?

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Factory Hemi? In a station wagon? I don't think so.... it's also got a cross-ram race intake on it.