Well… before I continue with the subject of this article I should inform you that I tend to let curiosity get the better of me sometimes. Which can end up in me doing manic searches for trivial things I probably shouldn’t waste my time on. This… is one of those times.
I’m a fan of the Shelby Daytona (more so than the Cobra). However, having a Ford engine in the car; while technically correct, isn’t something I wanted to have in my fantasy Daytona. Assuming I’ll ever have the funds to get a replica one at least. Anyway, initially, I started looking at 340 Hemis, as I guessed a 440 or 426 simply wouldn’t fit in the engine bay. Despite my best efforts though, I couldn’t find the height, width, and length specifications of the 340 Hemi. So then I looked at 318 Hemis and even Slant-Sixes but to no avail. I even took a gander at 440s and 426s with no luck. Oh, and before I forget, I had quickly found that 5.0 Coyote motors are an option that does actually fit in Daytona Replicas (it’s not the most popular choice but it was good enough for me). This didn’t help with the classic Mopar engines I found but it did give me hope for modern Hemi engines. Having nothing to lose, I looked at 5.7s (with 6.4s crossing my mind occasionally). These are the results:
Gen 3 Hemi 5.7 and 6.4: 42 x 42 x 48.
Gen 2 Coyote 5.0: 36.5 x 44.5 x 36.
Clearly the Hemis are far taller than that of the Coyote (along with being wider). And for those who don’t know, the first two numbers signify width and length. With the last number being height. With that in mind, neither of the Hemis are as long as the Coyote.
So there you have it! Unless you cut a hole in the hood of a Daytona Replica, a 5.7 or 6.4 liter Hemi probably won’t fit. The; judging by the numbers, you have a whole different probably of getting the engine to fit inbetween the chassis.
Hope you enjoyed this article that revolves around the weird and wonderful world that is the questions in my head…