| 427 SOHC HEMI-CAMMER |
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To compete with the all new Chrysler Hemi engine in NASCAR racing, Ford secretly developed an overhead
cam version of the high performance 427 Fe engine block. The legendary 427 SOHC was born. Known as the
Hemi-Cammer, it weighed in at 680 pounds and was virtually hand built. The hemispherical combustion
chambers with 2.5 inch intake valves and overhead cams transformed the 427 Wedge into a serious power
plant. Factory rating were 615 hp. @7000 rpm with a single four barrel and 657 hp. @7500 rpm with dual
quads.
Ford's hopes were cut short, however. Although Ford sold enough to have the design homologated, NASCAR,
after protests by Chrysler Corp., imagine that, effectively legislated the SOHC engine out of competition. This
despite having earlier permitted the Chrysler Hemi to be used for years even though it had never been
installed in a stock production car. Wonder who got paid off to make that decision. The awaited 1965 SOHC
versus Hemi competition at the Daytona 500 season opener never occurred. This was the only engine ever
banned from NASCAR. Nevertheless, the SOHC 427 found its niche in drag racing, powering many
altered-wheelbase A/FX Mustangs (after NHRA banned it from stock classes), and becoming the basis for a
handful of supercharged Top Fuel dragsters, including those of Connie Kalitta, Pete Robinson, and Lou
Baney (driven by "Snake" Prudhomme). It was also used in numerous nitro funny cars including those of
Jack Chrisman, Dyno Don Nicholson, Eddie Schartman, Kenz & Leslie, and in numerous injected gasoline
drag racing vehicles. A few guys even crammed one in their Cobra. Although an awesome and impressive
engine, it was short lived. Parts and pieces were very expensive and factory support just wasn't there.
Revell released these engine kits a few years back and they are really neat.. They consisted of the Ford 427,
427 SOHC, 427 SOHC Dragster, Chrysler 426 Hemi, 426 Hemi Dragster and the Chevy small block and 427.
I don't know how many are still available. No painting is necessary and minimal gluing is required. The major
pieces screw together and a small screwdriver is supplied in the kit. The detailing is amazing. Building it strait
out of the box, you can have one done in a few hours. Now if they'd come out with 1/6 scale cars to put them
in we'd really have something.
I built it out of the box. I did paint some of the small details like carb linkage, nuts and bolt heads. I also
painted inside the air cleaner and valve cover fins with a water based acrylic. You can brush it in the recesses
and wipe off any excess with a damp cloth. The only water base I have (I don't particularly care for water base
paint) is FS15050 Blue Angels blue and luckily it matches the Ford blue nicely. The block is the correct Ford
engine blue. The intake is silver. The real intake is aluminum and the silver doesn't portray it properly.
Overall, they're cool kits. I might even do a Chrysler or a Chevy. Imagine that!
cam version of the high performance 427 Fe engine block. The legendary 427 SOHC was born. Known as the
Hemi-Cammer, it weighed in at 680 pounds and was virtually hand built. The hemispherical combustion
chambers with 2.5 inch intake valves and overhead cams transformed the 427 Wedge into a serious power
plant. Factory rating were 615 hp. @7000 rpm with a single four barrel and 657 hp. @7500 rpm with dual
quads.
Ford's hopes were cut short, however. Although Ford sold enough to have the design homologated, NASCAR,
after protests by Chrysler Corp., imagine that, effectively legislated the SOHC engine out of competition. This
despite having earlier permitted the Chrysler Hemi to be used for years even though it had never been
installed in a stock production car. Wonder who got paid off to make that decision. The awaited 1965 SOHC
versus Hemi competition at the Daytona 500 season opener never occurred. This was the only engine ever
banned from NASCAR. Nevertheless, the SOHC 427 found its niche in drag racing, powering many
altered-wheelbase A/FX Mustangs (after NHRA banned it from stock classes), and becoming the basis for a
handful of supercharged Top Fuel dragsters, including those of Connie Kalitta, Pete Robinson, and Lou
Baney (driven by "Snake" Prudhomme). It was also used in numerous nitro funny cars including those of
Jack Chrisman, Dyno Don Nicholson, Eddie Schartman, Kenz & Leslie, and in numerous injected gasoline
drag racing vehicles. A few guys even crammed one in their Cobra. Although an awesome and impressive
engine, it was short lived. Parts and pieces were very expensive and factory support just wasn't there.
Revell released these engine kits a few years back and they are really neat.. They consisted of the Ford 427,
427 SOHC, 427 SOHC Dragster, Chrysler 426 Hemi, 426 Hemi Dragster and the Chevy small block and 427.
I don't know how many are still available. No painting is necessary and minimal gluing is required. The major
pieces screw together and a small screwdriver is supplied in the kit. The detailing is amazing. Building it strait
out of the box, you can have one done in a few hours. Now if they'd come out with 1/6 scale cars to put them
in we'd really have something.
I built it out of the box. I did paint some of the small details like carb linkage, nuts and bolt heads. I also
painted inside the air cleaner and valve cover fins with a water based acrylic. You can brush it in the recesses
and wipe off any excess with a damp cloth. The only water base I have (I don't particularly care for water base
paint) is FS15050 Blue Angels blue and luckily it matches the Ford blue nicely. The block is the correct Ford
engine blue. The intake is silver. The real intake is aluminum and the silver doesn't portray it properly.
Overall, they're cool kits. I might even do a Chrysler or a Chevy. Imagine that!
