Always see pics of this experimental motor but few articles or write ups. How many were actually produced and how close did they ever get to production? Do any of them still exist today? Oh and I do know "hemi" is incorrect. I think it was called a "pent roof"

 

I have heard a collector down south has one . Far as how many made not sure
Guys such as David bunch or Kurt shubert may know .
Dave use to work in Lansing and Kurt is very knowledgeable as well Joe padavano.
I would email any one of them

 

Almost forgot another excellent source on olds hemi is WIld ABout Cars site. Check it out great Olds info on there
Dean

 

The W-43 and OW-43 were documented in an extensive article in the May 1971 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. WAC has a complete copy of the article on their site.

 

Despite the plug location the engine does not have hemispherical combustion chambers. To call it a 'Hemi' is a misnomer.

 

Yeah wasn't the correct term used "pent roof" or something similar? Thanks for all the info guys
What a shame it never made it to production. Makes you wonder what a 1971 W43 would bring today????

 

Pent-roof it is, and you can clearly see that in the cutaway above. "Misnomer" is putting it mildly. You would not be able to make a 4-valve per cylinder hemi.

 

Technically, you could, but it would require each valve to be at a different angle from the others. This would take "canted valve heads" to a whole new level.

 

That's my point. I'd say "theoretically" you could, "tecnically" you can't. You wouldn't be able to make it work.
Bottom line is you will never see one.

 

Just a minor disagreement in semantics. I would argue that "technically", you CAN build one, but it wouldn't be practical. It would require separate lifters and pushrods for each valve, but if a BBC can have canted valves, there's no physical reason why you couldn't build four canted valves per cylinder. Would that be practical or cost effective? No, but it isn't physically impossible. I agree that you'll never see one.

The valve train would be far more complex than even this one:

 

UNLESS electromechanical or hydraulic servo technology advances to the point where size vs force ratios are favorable.

Of course, I'm not holding my breath...

- Eric