If you're a company that makes aftermarket cylinder heads for Detroit's most recent powerhouses, you've found yourself in a bit of a pickle in recent years, as mass flow rates for OE cylinder heads have skyrocketed in a race for improved efficiency. Driven by the EPA, today's Detroit-built V8s are wringing a lot more work from a gallon of gas than we ever predicted. A perfect example of this is the third-generation Hemi V8, which even in its most diminutive form, offers port flow exceeding that of the most powerful big-block V8s of the 1960s.
This has been a boon to Mopar hot rodders, who can simply clean and refurbish their existing OE Hemi cylinder heads and save some money in the process. Stock third-gen Hemi heads are literally too good to warrant a serious aftermarket assault on the product category-or are they? The performance bar for aftermarket Hemi heads would need to be significantly higher to make the effort pay off, a scenario made more difficult because the Hemi has separate casting and machining operations for driver- and passenger-side cylinder heads.
Late last year, Air Flow Research (AFR) announced a new line of cylinder heads for the third-generation Hemi called the Black Hawk. The Black Hawk third-gen Hemi cylinder head lineup consists of three basic flavors: 185cc, 212cc, and 224cc intake ports-and compete in the third-gen Hemi aftermarket arena with just two other non-OE-based product lines: the street-oriented, smog-legal Edelbrock Performer RPM, and the race-oriented Bear cylinder head by Rhode Island-based Thitek. For an engine family that's now 20 years old, that isn't a lot to choose from, and it only underscores how good the factory third-gen Hemi offerings are.
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Hot Rod.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Hot Rod.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Making Connections
Project T-top Coupe: We install a Terminator X Max for big power.
LET IT BREATHE!
Project X’s new ZZ632 big-block needed to breathe, and this do-ityourself stainless exhaust kit was just the ticket to make it happen.
TUNING OPTIMIZED
VARIABLES WITHIN FUEL-INJECTOR CONSTRUCTION CAN LEAD TO POOR ENGINE OPERATION. HERE'S HOW TO TUNE YOUR FUEL INJECTORS.
Re-Flange It!
We check out the fab skills needed to run a flat hood on a 1970 Mustang with a very unique and too-tall engine.
THE TRIBUTE FOR THE WIN
Ron Capps wins the NHRA U.S. Nationals driving a Don Prudhomme-Hot Wheels tribute Funny Car.
So Close
Following a nearly flawless performance, a pít lane penalty kept the C8.R off the top of the podium in the IMSA Sportscar Weekend.
A RADICAL SHIFT
When you're a teenager and the police know you by name, it's not usually because of your volunteer work or class-topping GPA. Not at all. That was especially true for Jeff Kainz when he was behind the wheel of his 1975 Camaro. In the '80s, while cruising his hometown in North Dakota, his buddies with police scanners often heard the police tell one another: \"Kainz is out on Main Street.\"
WILD MASH-UP
Built to long-haul the 2023 HOT ROD Power Tour, this 1984 Monte Carlo’s facade hides a performance secret!
6 TIMER!
Tom Bailey captures his 6th HOT ROD Drag Week Unlimited/Overall title with his Sick Seconds 1.0 Camaro.
JIM MCFARLAND'S INFLUENCE WENT WAY BEYOND HOT ROD MAGAZINE.
Jim McFarland, the multitalented, multifaceted Texan who enjoyed several careers in the automotive performance industry, passed away in October 2023 at the age of 88.