Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary 392 HEMI® engine.

To commemorate the event, Chrysler Group and Mopar are unveiling a SEMA first: a concept vehicle tricked out just for SEMA, the Dodge Challenger Super Stock, powered by a new edition of the 392 unit.

Presented at the Detroit’s 2006 North American International Auto Show and a year before its production debut, the all-new Dodge Challenger will debut as a 2008 model in calendar-year 2008.

The History of the 392 HEMI

The original 392 HEMI engine was introduced in the new 1957 model year Chryslers and Imperials. It replaced the 354 cubic-inch version of the original HEMI launched in 1951.

Compared with the 354, the 392 was completely revised and improved, with larger valves and ports, a beefier block and crankshaft, and improved bearings. In short, the 392 HEMI, often referred to simply as the “92,” was perfect for drag racing.

More than a few racers bolted on six or eight carburetors, slipped in a hotter cam, tipped some nitro into the tank and went racing. Racing legend Don Garlits ran a 392 in his Swamp Rat I at record speeds of over 180 mph on nitro with no supercharger. Garlits also used a 392 HEMI to officially break the 200-mph barrier when his Swamp Rat went 201.34 mph at Atco, N.J. in 1964.

About DaimlerChrysler’s Mopar® Brand

When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts supplier led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Division. In 1937, Mopar® (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was created for the business of distributing parts through a depot system and car divisional wholesalers.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s - the muscle car era. Beginning in 1962, Mopar carried a line of “Special Parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

Today, Chrysler Group’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world.

New 392 HEMI

Mopar is launching an all-new 392 HEMI crate motor, built with all new components and delivering 525 horsepower in its most potent form.

Three different versions of the new 392 are available: 

• P5153604 392 HEMI Crate Engine – Carbureted, 540 horsepower and 490 lb.-ft of torque 
• P5253605 392 HEMI Crate Engine – SEFI, 525 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque 
• P5153603 392 HEMI Long Block HEMI Crate Engine

Technical Specifications

• Deep-skirted cast iron block with cross-bolted mains 
• CNC-ported aluminum twin-plug cylinder heads 
• Stainless steel 2.100" intake and 1.600" exhaust valves 
• Ovate wire (beehive competition) valve springs 
• Viton competition valve stem seals 
• 279°/285° hydraulic roller camshaft with 0.584" intake and 0.552" exhaust lift 
• Forged pistons (4.055" bore) 
• 10.5:1 compression ratio 
• Aluminum single plane high rise intake manifold with holley 870 cfm 4-bbl carburetor for carbureted 392 applications (1) 
• 4140 forged steel crankshaft — 3.795" stroke 
• 4130 forged- steel I-beam performance connecting rods — 6.200" length 
• SFI-approved competition crankshaft damper 
• “Plug-and-Play” wiring harnesses (2) 
• 80 mm manual throttle body on fuel-injected engines (3) 
• Premium tri-metal performance engine bearings 
• Precision balanced rotating assembly 
• Distributorless coil-on-plug (COP) ignition system

(Source: Chrysler)