Ram 426 Hemi rumors: Years of talk, a new twist

Ram 426 Hemi rumors keep showing up in our comments, and it is easy to understand the appeal. A bigger V8, a legendary badge and the possibility of putting both in a new Ram truck make an enticing combination.

If the latest comeback videos sound familiar, they should. This has been discussed for years. TK’s Garage, Butter Da Insider and RacerX have covered different versions of the idea, while older reports tied a 7.0-liter Hemi to Ram long before the current wave of videos.

The latest twist is a naturally aspirated engine with potential performance upgrades through Direct Connection. But we have not found an official Ram announcement confirming a production 426-powered truck. Here is what the history and video transcripts actually tell us.

Why the 426 Hemi still matters

The 426 earned its reputation in competition. Chrysler introduced the second-generation 426 Race Hemi in 1964, when Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 and Hemi-powered cars took the top three spots. After NASCAR imposed street-production requirements, the Street Hemi arrived for 1966, allowing the engine back into NASCAR. Stellantis’ historical timeline documents those milestones.

Displacing roughly 7.0 liters, the engine became associated with some of the most desirable Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars. Dodge lists the original Charger’s available 426 Street Hemi at 425 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque. Those period ratings need context: Stellantis separately lists the 1971 engine at 350 net horsepower. They should not be treated as directly interchangeable with modern ratings. Dodge’s Charger history provides the original figures.

The original 426’s production run ended with the 1971 model year, but its reputation lasted. Even the calendar celebrates it: April 26 is Hemi Day, a reference to the displacement. Dodge explains the Hemi Day connection here.

Mopar returned to 426 cubic inches with the supercharged Hellephant crate engine at SEMA in 2018. It advertised 1,000 horsepower and 950 pound-feet of torque. That was a real engine announcement, but it was a crate-engine offering, not confirmation of a production Ram. A modern factory-installed 426 would need its own specifications and vehicle validation. Read Mopar’s Hellephant announcement.

Ram 426 Hemi rumors have circulated for years

The older coverage is worth remembering. In 2018, SEMA published spy-shot coverage of a Ram Rebel TR mule and discussed a rumored naturally aspirated 7.0-liter “Banshee” V8. Citing 5thGenRams, it described expectations of at least 520 horsepower and more than 525 pound-feet of torque, with an anticipated debut in 2020. Those were the expectations at the time, not confirmed specifications for today’s truck. SEMA’s 2018 report shows how far back the discussion goes.

The video trail also predates this week’s chatter. On March 27, 2025, RacerX posted “The 426 Hemi is Getting Ready to Make a Comeback.” Its description framed an aluminum 426 as something he believed made sense and was in the works at Stellantis.

On September 2, 2025, TK’s Garage published “426 HEMI Revival, All Brands Getting A 426!” In the transcript, he claimed four potential products across Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram were being considered. He also said a source described one vehicle as less than a week away from certification. His suggestion that it would be a Ram was explicitly his guess.

The discussion continued into 2026. TK’s June 7 video asked whether a supercharged 426 was coming to a “unicorn” Ram truck. Butter’s June 23 video explored multiple 426 configurations. Subsequent TK uploads discussed a possible turbocharged direction and a claimed 426 Rumble Bee development truck.

That is a series of videos over time, not a single new rumor. It also means we should compare what has changed. An older prediction does not verify a newer claim, and recurring references to the same displacement do not establish that every source is describing the same engineering program.

What TK’s Garage and Butter Da Insider actually claim

In “The HEMI 426 Returns But Not How We Thought,” TK describes a change from his expectations. Beginning around 2:24, he says unnamed sources told him the engines would arrive naturally aspirated, including a Ram 1500 application. Around 3:37, he adds that sources describe a Direct Connection twin-turbo kit and multiple supercharger options. His suggestions about particular supercharger suppliers are speculation.

His earlier Rumble Bee account illustrates the uncertainty. Around 2:25 in that video, TK describes a contact’s claim that a truck identified with a 426 crossed from Mexico into the United States. He acknowledges that he cannot verify the information. He also leaves the induction system unresolved, discussing turbocharged and supercharged possibilities.

Butter’s “This Twin-Turbo 426 HEMI Will Make the Corvette ZR1X Look Slow” makes a broader claim. Around 4:50, he says a source told him three 426 Hemi V8s were being developed and tested. At roughly 7:27, he acknowledges that he does not know exactly what those engines will be. The naturally aspirated, turbocharged and hybrid breakdown that follows is his interpretation.

That distinction matters. Butter attributes three engines in development to a source; the proposed configurations and vehicle assignments include his predictions. TK’s newest account points to naturally aspirated engines with optional boost packages. These are not identical claims or official Ram confirmation.

What to expect if a Ram 426 Hemi happens

If the naturally aspirated scenario proves accurate, the appeal could reach beyond buyers chasing maximum horsepower. A larger V8 could interest truck owners who want strong power delivery without a factory turbocharger or supercharger. But the useful questions would be torque at everyday engine speeds, performance under sustained load, fuel requirements and price.

There is already a real Hemi comeback to point to: Ram brought the 5.7-liter V8 back for the 2026 Ram 1500. That gives the current speculation context, but it does not establish a 7.0-liter successor.

Nor would a bigger engine automatically mean a higher tow rating. Buyers would need specifications for the complete truck, including the transmission, cooling, axle configuration, payload and rated capacities. Our look at Ram 1500 payload is a useful reminder to look beyond the engine badge.

A performance version would face a different benchmark. Ram advertises the upcoming TRX SRT at 777 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque. A naturally aspirated 426 would not automatically exceed those figures because it has more displacement. Its appeal could instead depend on sound, response, price and where it fits in the lineup. Ram’s official TRX specifications establish that comparison.

If Direct Connection upgrades follow, we would want eligible vehicles, installed pricing, fuel requirements, warranty terms and the final approved configurations. The videos give us possibilities to consider, but no verified 426 ordering information.

The same applies to timing. Years of videos make a strong case that people want a Ram 426 Hemi. They do not give buyers a dependable release date. The next meaningful step would be a named production model, official engine specifications and an order guide. Until then, this remains an intriguing rumor with a long history.