The 6.4L Hemi V8 officially available for the 2014 Ram HD

After months of speculation and rumors, the Chrysler Group has announced that the 6.4L Hemi V8 from the Street and Racing Technology lineup will be available in the 2014 Ram Heavy Duty lineup.  The 392 cubic inch Hemi coming to the Ram 2500, 3500 and Chassis Cab trucks has been built and tuned specifically for hard core truck use so it is not exactly the “same” engine from the Charger, Challenger, 300 and Grand Cherokee SRT8 models – with unique components designed to help handle the rigors of truck life as well as the specific power outputs.

Where the 392 Hemi from the SRT lineup offers 470 horsepower and 470lb-ft of torque, the new Ram HD 6.4L V8 makes 410 horsepower at 5,600rpm and 429lb-ft of torque at 4,000rpm.  I would also guess that the Ram HD version of the 392 Hemi has a flatter torque curve for improved performance when towing or hauling.

While this most certainly isn’t the “392 Hemi Ram” news that most Mopar lovers were hoping for, this new mill affords the Ram Brand the bragging rights of offering the most powerful gasoline engine in the heavy duty truck segment.  The most powerful gasoline option from Ford is the 6.2L V8 with 385hp and 405lb-ft of torque while the best gas engine that GM has to offer packs 360hp and 380lb-ft of torque.

More importantly, the new 6.4L Hemi offers Ram HD buyers an engine option with slightly more power and improved towing/hauling performance than the standard 5.7L Hemi.  Previously, Ram HD buyers who wanted  more power and capabilities than what was offered by the 5.7L Hemi had to step up to the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel engine.  That engine is substantially more capable in terms of both towing and hauling but it is also an engine option that adds almost $8,000 to the sticker price.  In the case of those buyers who need more than what is offered by the 5.7L Hemi but they do not need the class leading capabilities of the Cummins – the new 6.4L Hemi serves as a great option with a price of just $1,495 compared to similarly equipped Rams with the 5.7L Hemi.  Also, the 6.4L Hemi will be offered with the Ram 3500 dual rear wheel models whereas the 2013 3500 DRW package is available only with the costly Cummins diesel engine.  This means that the 2014 Ram 3500 DRW trucks could be somewhere in the area of $6,000 less than 2013 models.

In addition to the new 6.4L Hemi V8, the 2014 Ram HD lineup will continue on with the standard 5.7L Hemi with 383 horsepower and 400lb-ft of torque as well as three variants of the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel.  The first diesel option is a 350 horsepower and 660lb-ft of torque package that comes mated to a 6-speed manual transmission while that same engine fitted to an automatic transmission offers 370 horsepower and 800lb-ft of torque.  There is also the Cummins Turbo Diesel High Output package that packs a whopping 385 horsepower and 850lb-ft of torque, exclusively with an automatic transmission.  This is the drivetrain that allows the 2013 Ram 3500 to tow 30,000 pounds.

The first examples of the 2014 Ram HD with the 6.4L Hemi V8 will roll off of the assembly line in the third quarter with the first trucks hitting showrooms before the end of 2013.

Patrick Rall

"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.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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