[s-cars] NAC: biggest engine in American Muscle Car

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

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The corvette came with the 454ci in the famous L88 option package in 72
("L88" badge on the hood riser).  The 460 was an option in several of fords car
chassis in the early 70's as well.   The  In terms of obsolute "power" of big
blocks however (here's what you should read Frederic!), the 426 Hemi was IT.  The
official factory rating by Chrysler of the 426Hemi was 425hp at 5000 and
446lb/ft at 5000.  However, Chrysler never "claimed" this was maximum HP, it was
just the factory rating.  Several dyno tests of the rock stock 426Hemi revealed
that the torque was correct, but that HP at 6000rpm was actually 471.  To
compare, a stock W30 442 was rated at 350 at the time.  The hemi found it's way
into a lot of chassis, especially desireable are the police package hemis found
in some rather mundane stripped 4 doors.

Insurance issues hit around 72.

Scott Justusson




In a message dated 8/28/2003 7:08:28 PM Central Daylight Time,
strangconst at rogers.com writes:

> >engine. The Corvette had a 427 in 69, but you may have been able t
> "special
> >order" it w/ a 454, but I may be wrong about that.
> >
> >Ford had the 429 in their Mustang as you know. The 460 ford was huge, but
> it
> >was a "truck" engine, I'm not sure you could order it in a passenger car,
> >that is not to say that a 460 never made it into a passenger car.
> >
> >Caddy 472 was the biggest engine in '69 but I do not consider that a
> muscle
> >car, though I had one (convertible, of course) that made many Camaro
> owners
> >cry. I believe the 500 ci Caddy came out in '72.
> >
> >But the most powerful muscle car engine of the time was the Mopar Hemi. At
> >426 ci, it was the most efficient combustion chamber design at the time.
> >Plenty of people drove those Hemis from the dealer straight to the
> >dragstrip. They came in Dodge Chargers, and a few Challengers, as