Probably a Stupid question

What is a Hemi motor? Does spark plug location make it a Hemi? Why do some say the new Hemi's aren;t really Hemi's?

 

http://www.hemi.com/hemi.html

 

They may not be real HEMI's, but they sure look cool in the new Challengers..

 

hemi is short for hemispherical or half of a sphere. the combustion chamber is shapedlike half a sphere and the spark plug is centrally located.

 

No such thing as a stupid question. We all were wondering the same at one point of our lifes.

 

The spark plug does not have to be centrally located to be a HEMI. Nor was Chrysler anywhere near the first to use them, they just managed to trademark HEMI, which is short for Hemispherical. The first known use was in 1901, Chrysler didn't use them until the 1950's. Ther have also been Hemi Ford (Ardun and the FE427 SOHC) Aston martin, Mitsubishi, Porsche 911, Jaguar XK, and Lotus a**** others including Harley Davidson on the Iron Head Sportster.
Contrary to Chrysler propaganda, a Hemi does NOT have to have a single cam either. And the current Hemi is really a Semi Hemi in that part of the combustion chamber is filled in, so it's not a true Hemi as you can see here

 

Thank you, I had thought this was the case , but wasn't sure.

 

this is a hemi....named after it's actual hemispherical shape.

 

Also (throws up in mouth) Toyota...

 

^ That 54 cutaway shot is cool.

 

Even my 1957 BMW Isetta, 1 cyl, 13 hp is a HEMI.

 

Its from the Don Garlits museum, LOTS of cool early hemi stuff!

 

Harley Knucks, Pans, and Shovels were all Hemis.

 

Yep, like half of a g****fruit with the flat side facing down. Gary