Rumors around the automotive water cooler suggest that the 6.4L Hemi V8 that currently powers the majority of the Street and Racing Technology lineup will soon be offered in the Ram Heavy Duty lineup – but it will not be the next generation of the SRT pickup. Instead, this specially prepared 6.4L Hemi will likely serve as the entry level engine for the Ram 2500, 3500 and Chassis Cab models, replacing the 5.7L Hemi that has been the base engine for quite some time now.
The 5.7L Hemi has done a fine job serving as the sole gas engine option in the Ram (and Dodge Ram) Heavy Duty lineup since back in 2003. Starting in 2009, the 5.7L Hemi for the Ram HD featured a unique tune that allowed it to offer differing power outputs than the 5.7L Hemi used in the Ram 1500 and the most recent iteration of the HD 5.7L makes 383 horsepower and 400lb-ft of torque while the half ton Hemi makes 395 horsepower and 407lb-ft of torque. We can expect that the 6.4L Hemi will also receive a unique tune so it most likely won’t pack the same 470 horsepower and 470lb-ft of torque that it provides for the various SRT8 vehicles. Instead, the 6.4L Hemi in the Ram HD will be tuned to optimize the SRT Hemi’s workhorse capabilities rather than being tuned to serve as a high performance engine.
The rumormill suggests that the next Ram HD will offer somewhere in the area of 450 horsepower and 480lb-ft of torque so while it will offer less power than the SRT8 vehicles, it will provide significantly more power than the current entry level V8 in the Ram HD. More importantly, this 6.4L Hemi-powered Ram HD would pack substantially more power than any of the competitors from Ford or General Motors. This engine will likely be significantly less expensive than the Ram HD powered by the Cummins Turbo Diesel engine so those prospective buyers who want a three quarter ton or one ton pickup with big power and big towing/hauling capabilities without the big price of the diesel, the specially tuned SRT Hemi could be the answer.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
