Test drove a Dodge Hemi today. I liked it untill I started moving. The thing is guttless untill you get the RPMs up around 5000, of course after that range it took off like a bat out of h---. My 2000 F-150 with the 4.2L felt like it had more low end horse power and torque. Also the steering was way too loose. Needless to say I think the Hemi is just a marketing tool for Dodge. I don't think we have much to worry about from this truck.

 

Dodge has always been known for low-end power- but, you're not the first person I've heard say that the Hemi feels underpowered.

I guess this'll be a truck you have to "drive like you hate it" in order to get any real performance out of it...

Dodge better fix that- even Non-Dodge fans don't want to see the name "Hemi" poorly represented...

 

I didn't mean to say it is under powered overall.It's just underpowered where you need it in a truck. The low RPM range.

 

I think your butt dyno needs calibration.

 

Well
Posters on a Chevy site reported 14.8/14.9 for regcab stock 4X2 hemis with under1000 miles on them at the local drag strip
That's hauling *** for a heavy truck like a RAM

BTW with a 500-600 lb increses on the 2004 F150s and only 10 more torque I doubt the 2004s are going to feel as fast as the current 5.4s

 

I own a hemi and your somewhat right. The hemi is a little slow off the line.

It really comes to life around 3000rpms, and rockets up from there shifting at 5800rpms.

I had an 98 dodge with the 5.9 and I would say the 5.9 is a tad faster then the hemi is down low, but thats where it ends.

However these hemi's got a wierd computer system in it. I loaded up the truck with 800lbs of stuff, and it felt like it ran faster loaded then it did empty. The computer is really holding back the power when empty, but lets it lose when it is under load. Don't ask me how it does this. If I new I would be tricking it to run like that all the time. The tranny, don't even get me started, it shifts way to soft stalk. A aftermarket torque converter would fix that.

If you think the steering is soft in the new rams, you should see how soft it is in the old.

I don't know how the new f-150 handles but the 03 rams handle well. I would asume ford is stepping it up a notch to make sure they stay ahead of the competition.

14.8/14.9 is about right. Some run a little slower but are in the low 15 seconds. I ran mine at a 15.1 in the 1/4mile when it was at 1500miles on it.

Cheers,

Tony

 

so in the Summer you have to pretend its winter and put sand or gravel in the back?

I can see why they went that way... so the truck has the exact same acceleration empty with 500 or 1000#

But I think I will stick with Ford. I prefer the look, inside and out.

 

HI!... I've raced 3 of the new DODGE HEMI trucks. All 3 were reg-cab, short box's. They are DOG slow for having 345H.P. I walked them all right from the dead stop and pulled hard on them all. Two I put about 6-8 truck lengths on and the third guy let off after I yanked him out of the hole by 3 trucks. LOL! Try again DODGE!lol!

 

c'mon Neal, you aren't playing fair....

even though a "normal" 5.4 could probably still smoke a Hemi

 

Now, if you'd said you drive a 5.3L Chevy, or a Ford Lightning- Jumping 3 trucks out the hole on someone would be believable, or dusting someone by 6-8 trucks (That knew they were racing) would be believable. But, in an F-150... Doubtful.

I love Ford's, but fast- they ain't.

You must be modded out the ying-yang.

 

HI!... Bighersh : You obviously have not been around this site long enough to know who I am or what has been done to my truck. High 13's in N/A mode making about 345H.P at the flywheel. Fastest N/A F-150 on the boards.

 

Just curious, what temps were those dodges ran in that were running high 14s and low 15s?

 

I would think that a stock Hemi would out perform a stock 5.4 in most every performance test in the same configuration of truck, including towing.

 

With 85 more hp, it better out perform. But, will it outperform the supercharged harley, with the same hp? Nope.

 

Because the Harley has more torque, way more torque. Its not Hp that will get you going, its Torque.

Tony